Milo’s corporate HQ in Birmingham was well represented: (L-R) Vice President of Operations Liz Smith, CEO Tom Dekle, Marketing Manager Mary Duncan Proctor, and Area Manager Evans Smith / W.C. Mann
CULLMAN – After an absence of several years, Milo’s Hamburgers has returned to Cullman. The Birmingham-based chain appears to be viewing its previous departure from the Cullman market as more of a learning experience than a failure, choosing a new location in the middle of the Cherokee Avenue retail district and bringing an expanded menu and schedule.
Judging by the crowd, Milo’s first day was a roaring success. Tables in the dining room stayed full, and at times the drive through line backed all the way out into the street, sometimes blocking both lanes of Patriot Way.
Milo’s corporate executives were on hand to see and take an active role in the restart: greeting visitors, passing out souvenir hats, and even passing out menus in the drive through line. Vice President of Operations Liz Smith and Marketing Manager Mary Duncan-Proctor took time out of a busy lunch rush to sit down with The Tribune.
“We feel like Cullman has grown in time,” said Smith, “and we just felt like it was the right time to get back here. With the growth and all the excitement in Cullman right now, we felt like this is a great market. We have a ton of folks from here that go to our Gardendale store, so we said it’s the right time to get in here. We got lots of requests, and we’re excited to be here.”
Duncan-Proctor added, “We really do listen to our fan base; so as soon as we hear multiple people asking about a location, we’re going to look into it.”
Milo’s returns to Cullman with both a longer daily schedule and wider range of menu choices than before. The restaurant opens at 6 a.m. with breakfast items including biscuits, sliders and burritos; chicken fingers have been added to the lunch and supper selections.
So what should folks expect from Milo’s?
“A hot, saucy mess!” responded Duncan-Proctor. “Good service, friendly faces. A lot of it’s all about the sauce: burgers are saucy, the chicken goes great with all of our homemade sauces. And everyone loves the really sweet tea.”
The sauce is the thing
For most Milo’s fans, the chain’s distinctive charm lies in the sauce that comes on its burgers. By the way, it’s the first thing that many detractors mention, as well.
Proctor admitted with a smile, “Our sauce is a ‘love it or hate it’ thing. But if you don’t like it at first, by the third time you try it, I guarantee you’ll be hooked!”
During our lunch meeting, Proctor and Smith showcased Milo’s sauce selection with a sample tray and chicken for dipping. The flavors:
- Milo’s Sauce – the standard sauce that comes on original burgers
- Double-O Sauce – a chicken dip made from ranch dressing and Milo’s sauce
- Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing – made in the local restaurant
- Boom-Boom Sauce – a hot spicy dipping sauce
- Honey Mustard Sauce – a popular standard for many fans of chicken tenders
According to Smith, each sauce is available for both chicken and burgers, by order.
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