[citation needed] The initial idea of an organic fast casual restaurant was conceived in 2002 by founder and owner Hans Hess.

He opened the first restaurant in September 2005, in Falls Church, Virginia,[1] and was called "the first organic burger joint" by Saveur magazine.

Elevation Burger's corporate parent and founder appeared in a June 2009 The Wall Street Journal article as one of the companies recently targeted by fake Twitter profiles.

The respective Twitter profile, created in the name of Elevation Burger but promoting a rival, was discovered in March 2009, then suspended after a letter from Hess's lawyer.

[17] Elevation Burger was named as one of fast rising casual restaurant chains,[18] catering to health-conscious clients.