Mmm… bacon cheeseburger!
Michigan to showcase innovation: National Cheeseburger Day Sept. 18
Sept. 10, 2025
Known as Michigan’s capital, Lansing also holds another title, although perhaps lesser known—but more delectable.
By most accounts, Lansing is the birthplace of the bacon cheeseburger. You can thank A&W.
Started in 1919 as roadside root beer stand in California, A&W Restaurants predates McDonald’s, White Castle and Burger King.
Roy W. Allen partnered with Frank Wright to establish what at the time was a pioneer in fast food.
About 35 years after the fast-food chain started franchising in 1926, Dale Mulder brought the chain to Michigan.
Mulder initially opened his A&W franchise in 1961 on a highway that connected Detroit and Grand Rapids.
Realizing that many customers frequently and repeatedly requested bacon on their cheeseburgers, Mulder made it a menu item in 1963. The franchisee subsequently rose to become A&W’s chairman and president.
With or without bacon, Michiganders celebrate their cheeseburgers—all kinds.
“Life takes energy. It takes energy to cook burgers and all types of food. Energy can come from pipelines like Line 5 that transports the building blocks for propane. You can find many chefs in Michigan who rely on propane for their grills.”
—Kirstie Staelens, Enbridge senior advisor of community engagement in Michigan
Celebrating the burger, innovation
Every August, Caseville, MI, in the Lower Peninsula’s Huron Township, hosts a 10-day Cheeseburger Festival.
In what started as a three-day event in 1999, local restaurants and food trucks serve their cheeseburger and vegetarian creations, attracting tens of thousands to Caseville.
“The bacon cheeseburger symbolizes Michigan’s fun and innovative spirit,” said Kirstie Staelens, Enbridge senior advisor, community engagement.
“With the Great Lakes Tunnel Project, I believe Enbridge captures a similar sense of innovation.
“While there are underwater tunnels across the world, the Great Lakes Tunnel will reflect the best in engineering, design and safety and enable Michiganders to continue to receive from Line 5 a reliable source of energy. That energy also happens to be essential to providing the fuel that transports the many ingredients that contribute to those great bacon cheeseburgers!”
You can decide for yourself what kind of burger that tickles your fancy by participating in National Cheeseburger Day on September 18.
And, you can also add a twist to this tradition by selecting your own favorite topping and celebrating one of the most iconic burgers around in Michigan—the bacon cheeseburger.
Hmmm…burger!
