Habit Burger opens in Eureka, brings more than 50 local jobs
Eureka’s first Habit Burger added more than 50 local jobs and a late-night drive-thru to Fifth Street, turning a new chain opening into a test of local economic gain.
The Habit Burger & Grill’s new Fifth Street drive-thru gave Eureka its first Habit in Humboldt County and put more than 50 local hires on the payroll, a measurable boost in a city where every new service job matters. The restaurant opened May 13 at 1917 5th St., behind the old Starbucks, after nearly three years of planning and construction tied to the Eureka Gateway project area.
The opening matters beyond the menu. Grill Kitchen, LLC is operating the restaurant, and workers were hired from across Humboldt County, including Eureka, Rio Dell, and Blue Lake. For a county that watches every new chain entry for signs of outside capital or local spillover, that hiring footprint is one of the few concrete ways to judge whether the arrival is creating fresh work or simply shifting spending from one counter to another.
The site adds a new traffic pattern to one of Eureka’s main corridors. With a drive-thru, dine-in seating, takeout, and delivery through the Habit Mobile App and online ordering, the restaurant is built for high turnover and late-day demand. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, a schedule that positions it as a stop for commuters, students, and workers moving through the west side.
Habit’s pre-opening materials also said the Eureka location includes indoor self-serve kiosks and that VIP preview events were held before opening, including a free Charburger promotion for the first 200 guests on May 9 at 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The company said the Eureka restaurant is its first in Humboldt County, part of a California-born chain founded in 1969 and now owned by Yum! Brands.
Planning records had already signaled that the project would occupy a 2,400-square-foot space with a drive-thru and share the lot with a new Starbucks, underscoring how the west-side development is being built around auto access and quick-service retail. Habit said no additional Humboldt County locations are planned at this time, making the Eureka opening a single-point expansion rather than the start of a larger local rollout.
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