Top Burgers with a Spiritual Commitment

Greg Draper (left), a fellow minister, poses with owner Tony Barragan in front of the wall-o-signatures inside Bim Bam Burgers.

Minister and burger joint owner Tony Barragan and his business partner Yerby Weaver are catering to the Ole Miss and Oxford communities both by sharing the word of the Lord and his secret burger recipe.

Barragan opened Bim Bam Burgers, formerly known as Christy’s Burgers, in May 2013 on West Jackson Avenue in Oxford. Barragan offers burgers of every size (up to a whopping pound and a half), as well as chicken tenders, wings, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and just a little religion. Bim Bam Burgers also caters, delivers, and accommodates tailgate orders.

And the burgers must be outstanding, as Bim Bam Burgers received the Grover’s Choice Award for the ‘Best Burger in Town’ as determined by a survey of tailgaters in the Grove.

“I took a decline in pay to purchase this business, which I believe I was led to do. Business is good, though, and our customers reflect our focus on living a purposeful life,” Barragan said.

Despite the seemingly sports-affiliated name, Bim Bam Burgers covers more than tasty food and the proof is, literally, written on the wall.

A quick glance around the small restaurant in the Goose Creek Shopping Center, the most notable piece of décor is a wall covered with hundreds of signatures, drawings, and slogans. A closer inspection shows that many of Barragan’s customers share his same ideologies and beliefs.

Scribbled on the wall is everything from J.R. Tolkeim’s famous quote, “Not all those who wander are lost” to the Exodus verse “The Lord will fight your battles; you need only to be still” to a simple “Reminder: Do Homework”.

“We are a family business that the Lord led me to acquire and that is why we see so many people of faith from all races,” Barragan said. “We want our burgers to be the best, but what is important is the faith we see among our customers.”

It’s important to note that of the hundreds, and maybe thousands, of writings on our wall, none are vulgar or off color. A quick look at the wall tells anyone this is a different kind of burger place.

“All are uplifting in one way or the other, “ Barragan said.

Barragan is particularly inspired by one of the slogans pinned on his wall: “Live life through the windshield, not the rear view mirror”.

On the wall opposite the customer signatures, there is the calming statement, which covers much of that west wall. It reads: “Remember that half of the things we worry about are never going to happen… So eat your burger and move on!”