Small business spotlight: SideStreet Burgers celebrates 10 years

A good burger is hard to find, but we know a place right here in DeSoto County, Mississippi! Olive Branch’s SideStreet Burgers was founded in May 2012 by Chef Jonathan Mah. He began with a small menu of burgers, baked potato wedges and an Irish Car Bomb bread pudding that rivals desserts near and far.

Chef Mah’s father owned Evans Cafe in Old Towne Olive Branch, so the restaurant roots run deep in this family. It was there, at Evans Cafe, that Chef Mah got his start grilling up burgers. Pair that experience with his degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and he was set for success. After graduation, Chef Mah worked at several corporate restaurants until he finally decided to go out on his own. His father stumbled upon a vacant space in Olive Branch and Chef Mah knew it was the perfect spot for him. Thus, SideStreet Burgers was born.

Chef Mah’s advice to future business owners is that if you can’t be yourself, and cook things or run them in your own way, your business will not be as successful as you wish. He believes that one of the most important lessons he has learned along the way is to be innovative. Whether it's developing new unique menu items or adding new technology to keep up with increased demand, you have to constantly grab your customer's attention and make it easier for them to be your guest.

"He (Mah’s father) gave me the right perspective, guidance and confidence to open my own place,” Chef Mah said. “Why work 60 hours a week for someone else if you are able to do it on your own? Invest in yourself!”

His favorite thing about owning his own business is the ability to be creative with his food and share it with the community he loves. Chef Mah attributes much of his success to his family and friends who have shown him a tremendous amount of support since opening SideStreet Burgers a decade ago. The phrase “it takes a village” is certainly true in Chef Mah’s life. And, that village has helped SideStreet Burgers receive nods for its delicious cuisine, including Best Things Mississippi’s list of the eight best burgers in the state and Big Seven Travel’s 25 best burgers in the state, as well as taking home the No. 2 spot for best burger in the DeSoto Times Tribune’s DeSoto’s Best Awards last year. 

When asked why he decided to open his second restaurant, OB Pizza Co., Chef Mah said, “Derric at the Mississippi Ale House was open for over a year and was very successful. My SideStreet team became self-sufficient, which gave me time to test out new ideas for a second restaurant. We held many pop-ups and ultimately decided that pizza was the best option, so we opened OB Pizza Co.”

When Chef Mah is away from the restaurants, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. He believes a work-life balance is important, and this belief has helped him develop a healthy company culture at both establishments. Visit SideStreet Burgers to discover your new favorite burger joint right here in DeSoto County.