Squared Away

Bill Shumate reached back to his Southwestern roots in opening his fledgling Square 1 Burgers & Bar restaurant chain based in Tampa, even though the current concept only vaguely resembles his original idea.

In the mid-1960s, Shumate operated a burger place across from the University of Oklahoma campus named, appropriately enough, Across the Street. It was geared to be a fun hangout for college students and other younger patrons.

Fun for a broader audience is also at the center of Square 1, which Shumate says he started from scratch. The only nods to the old era are a few steer heads on the wall, cowhide covers on some booths, and the overwhelming presence of Boomer Sooner in the crimson walls throughout each location and in the names of items on the menu.