A burger shop battle has been brewing at a rural Ontario intersection for over 30 years

A busy Toronto intersection is on the cusp of its own burger battle royale, but at one rural Ontario intersection, two burger restaurants are having a clash of their own.

Heading northwest out of Toronto, past Brampton and Caledon, past Orangeville and Mono, you may just find yourself in Shelburne, population roughly 9,000. To get there, you'll have to turn west off Highway 10 and onto 89.

As you do that, though, you'll be met with a somewhat staggering sight: two large, seemingly equally well-attended burger shops staring each other down on the opposite corners of the highways. 

Photo by Superburger.

Superburger, on the northwest corner, has existed on that corner since 1983, when James Nicolau purchased a vacant former buffet and dressed it up with a menu of crowd-pleasing roadside fare: burgers, hot dogs, crispy chicken sandwiches and coffee.

In 1990, Nicolau acquired a decommissioned TTC streetcar and transformed it into a dining room for customers, where it stood until it fell into disrepair and was removed in 2015.

Another notable addition to the intersection came just two years after Superburger's streetcar, and this time, it would not necessarily help to draw diners to Nicolau's restaurant. 

Photo by Champ Burger.

Champ Burger, helmed by a then-17-year-old Stan Dimakos, opened its doors in 1992, on the northeast corner, just 120 metres and the width of Highway 10 away.

Anywhere, big city or small town, two comparable burger restaurants so snugly situated would almost certainly lead to one quickly devouring the other, but, with Superburger celebrating its 43rd year and Champ Burger its 34th, it's clear that the duelling griddles have reached an armistice. Somehow.

An anonymous poll posted in a Shelburne community Facebook group proves that locals, though divided on which burger joint is the better of the two, will fiercely defend their choices.

Superburger devotees cite more affordable prices and fresher patties, while the Champ camp argues in favour of the spot's smash burgers and friendly staff.

One participant states that they go to Superburger for a burger and cross the street for fries at Champ. A different commenter argues the opposite. While both restaurants operate in peace, the real battle appears to be between their customers, willing to defend their preferred patty to the bitter end.

For non-locals, the duo is little more than a meaty mirage on the drive to cottage country, but, hey, at least they're spoiled for choice if they stop off for a snack on the way.