National burger chain opening on Clematis Street

Five Guys Burgers and Fries opens Monday on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach. It's the latest Five Guys opening by a Palm Beach County family of four guys.

The family venture, led by Tom Tracy of Tequesta, owns the franchise for Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. The family operates several stores throughout the counties.

The Clematis Street store differs from its other locations, however, in that it will stay open until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and until midnight the other nights. It might even stay open later than 2 a.m. on weekends, depending on demand, Tracy said. Other Five Guys stores stay open until 10 p.m.

The store, at 330 Clematis, is an encouraging sign for the downtown dining and entertainment district. Throughout the years, national retailers have opened, and then departed, this urban street. Restaurants now dotting Clematis Street mostly are owned by local or regional operators.

But Five Guys represents a national presence. The location seats about 70 and also features a courtyard behind the building.

Tracy said he and his three sons - Matthew, Patrick and Ryan - opened a store in January in St. Lucie West that has exceeded their expectations, turning into the family's No. 1 store in sales. A store also opened in Jupiter recently.

On the horizon, the Tracys are looking at sites in Delray Beach, west of Boca Raton, Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach, west of Military Trail.