Burger restaurant opens at Vib hotel

A new restaurant is now operating in the lobby of Springfield's Vib hotel near the intersection of Sunshine Street and Glenstone Avenue.

Dustin Coffin, who has restaurant experience in Bolivar, said he's managing the Burger Bar on behalf of hotel ownership. Part of the Best Western International Inc. portfolio of hotels, Vib Springfield opened in 2018 via hotel developer Gordon Elliott of Elliot Lodging Ltd.

Coffin said the Burger Bar, 1845 E. Sunshine St., launched with a soft opening on May 16.

"The menu is simple: fast but fresh," he said this morning. "We want it to be a spot that people can come and enjoy a good meal, whether they're a Springfield resident or coming through on vacation."

Smash burgers and wraps are among items on the "comfort food" menu, Coffin said.

The Burger Bar takes over Vib space previously occupied by The Wheelhouse, an Asian fusion restaurant that signaled plans to relocate downtown earlier this year. The Wheelhouse's Facebook page indicates it opened May 15 at 307 S. Jefferson Ave., the former home of Prairie Pie before its recent consolidation into the Tea Bar & Bites Bakery & Cafe space in the Rountree neighborhood.

Coffin, the head chef and general manager at the Burger Bar, said he heads up a staff of five employees at the restaurant. Coffin, 25, previously opened Dusty Bob's food truck and DB's Downtown Grillhouse, both in Bolivar.