History of The Slugburger
A Depression-era favorite made famous in Corinth, Mississippi, a "Slugburger" is made with ground meat (usually pork and sometimes beef), flour, soy grits or another extender. They are as flavorful as they come, and a nostalgia-fueled delicacy around North Mississippi, West Tennessee, and Northern Alabama.
In 1917, a gentleman named John Weeks headed South from Chicago to Corinth, Mississippi. Tapping his knowledge of the beef processing industry, he devised a recipe for a new “burger” that allowed him to save money on the meat (and which ensured his guests saved money on their meals as well). His creation - the Slugburger (originally called the “Weeks Burger”) - sold for a nickel (aka a “slug,” hence he name) and proved a perfect, inexpensive meal during The Great Depression and World War II.
John sold his burgers from the back of a moveable shack with bicycle wheels, eventually purchasing an old trolley car that he converted into a freestanding café. From there, the family franchise converted four more trolley cars, and the legend of the Slugburger grew.
While the price changed over the years, the name stuck. You can still find them today around Northern Mississippi and into some parts of Tennessee and Alabama. And, of course, you can find them here at Hugh-Baby's every Friday.
We follow tradition by serving Slugburgers with mustard, pickles, and onions, but we like to throw ours on a toasted potato bun.