Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Bierkle.
Hi Jennifer, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in my family’s automotive business and earned my bachelor’s degree in Automotive Marketing Management. From a young age, I loved sales, customer service, and the energy of the car business, so after graduating college, I joined the family business and worked alongside them.
After getting married and starting a family with my husband, my priorities shifted. I spent the next 20 years as a stay-at-home mom and homemaker—something I truly loved. During that time, I discovered another passion: cooking and entertaining. I loved bringing people together, hosting parties, creating elaborate meals for friends and family, and making home-cooked meals a regular part of life for my children.
In 2020, like many families, we found ourselves spending much more time at home. I bought my husband a flat-top grill, and around that same time my father-in-law was in the process of purchasing one of our favorite local slider spots, Whimpie’s Place in Lexington, Michigan. Inspired by that experience, my husband and I started experimenting at home, trying to recreate our favorite sliders.
What started as cooking for ourselves quickly turned into cooking for family, neighbors, and friends. We tested different beef blends, buns, toppings, flavors, and techniques. Then my son challenged me to recreate a Chick-fil-A style chicken sandwich in the fryer—and that became another turning point.
At some point, we looked at each other and thought: maybe we should do this for real.
Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, I felt I understood our community and what was missing. We found a small space on Fisher Road directly across from Grosse Pointe South High School, and I knew immediately this was where I wanted to build it.
Our concept was simple but different: slider-sized burgers and chicken sandwiches served on the same size bun, offered in endless flavor combinations, all called “Smashers.” I also insisted on adding a liquor license and, somewhat unexpectedly, an ICEE machine. I believed our community needed a casual, family-friendly restaurant that felt approachable, fun, and unique for all ages.
Many people in the industry told me the concept wouldn’t work—that martinis, ICEEs, and smash burgers didn’t belong together. But I trusted my instincts and stayed committed to the original vision.
After 18 months of planning, building, and pushing through challenges, we officially opened our doors in December 2024.
Since opening, the response from our community has been incredible. Most recently, we were honored to be voted Best New Restaurant in Wayne County by Hour Detroit Magazine. We were also recognized as finalists for Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant, Best Gluten-Free Menu, and Best Specialty Burger.
Opening this restaurant has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life—and proof that sometimes the best ideas come from following a passion you never expected to turn into a business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Having absolutely no experience in the restaurant industry, I truly started from ground zero. While my husband had experience as an entrepreneur and was an incredible support on the business side, this was completely new territory for me.
People often ask how we got started, and honestly, there wasn’t some big master plan. One day I found the space, and the next day I called the city. Then I made the next phone call, and then the next decision. It really happened one step at a time.
My son Ben asked me one day, “How do you start a business?” My answer was simple: one day at a time. He responded with an analogy I’ve never forgotten—he said it’s like climbing a ladder, taking one new step every day. That perfectly describes the experience.
I wouldn’t say opening the restaurant was difficult in the sense of impossible—it was long, detailed, and incredibly overwhelming at times. And honestly, extremely scary.
Throughout the process I constantly questioned myself: Why am I doing this? Is this going to work? Will people understand the concept? Where will I find employees? Will anyone even come?
But each day we kept climbing the next rung of the ladder, solving one problem at a time. Looking back now, I realize you don’t need to know everything before you start—you just need to be willing to take the first step and keep moving forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about High P0inte Burger Jointe ?
At High Pointe Burger Jointe, we are committed to serving up delicious handcrafted smash burgers that bring joy to our community. We strive to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere where neighbors can gather to enjoy fresh, high quality ingredients and exceptional customer service. Our mission is to not only satisfy appetites but also to create memorable experiences that keep customers coming back for more. We aim to be a beloved local gem that adds flavor and charm to the neighborhood, one smash burger at a time! SMASH your hunger at High Pointe Burger Jointe.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success can mean different things to different people. For some, success is measured by wealth or financial growth. Anyone in the restaurant industry knows the margins are tight, and while I’m proud that we are doing well, it wasn’t the motivating factor.
What brings me the most joy is our people.
Watching the team we built together show up every day, work hard, care about the restaurant, and have passion for what we are creating means more to me than numbers ever could. Seeing employees take pride in something that started as an idea in my kitchen is incredibly rewarding.
I also define success by the support of our community. There is something really special about seeing people embrace what we built for them—families coming in weekly, students gathering after school, people celebrating milestones with us, and guests choosing to spend their time and money at our restaurant.
To me, success is creating something people connect with. It’s building a place where employees feel proud to work and where the community feels welcome and excited to return.
If you can create something that people care about and become part of the fabric of your community, that’s success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://highpointeburgerjointe.com
- Instagram: @highpointeburgerjointe
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/high-pointe-burger-jointe-grosse-pointe?osq=high+pointeburger+jointe
