It’s almost time to get your burger and fries on at the new Five Guys in Auburn, set to open after the Memorial Day weekend. The signs are up and the parking lot is paved!

Franchisee Jody Goehring tells The Buzz that work is almost complete at the new burger emporium, at 223 Center St., and that they hope to have their certificate of occupancy by the final week in May.

Five Guys has built its reputation on fresh burgers cooked to order and hand-cut Idaho potatoes, cooked twice in peanut oil. They offer hot dogs and a few other sandwiches, including a veggie sandwich, which is not a veggie burger, and milk shakes.

It will be the first Five Guys in Maine to have a drive-thru, although that won’t be ready for operation until mid-June. Dine-in and takeout will be offered as soon as they open their doors. Goehring said they’re looking to hire between 40 and 50 people, both full and part-time.

Anyone interested in applying for a position can email Frank Peace at frank@hydeparkventures.com.

Kings & Queens Hair Studio is coming to Lewiston next week. Business partners Michael Sewell and Adrian Reyes (yes, reyes is “kings” in Spanish), who have been in business for six years, are set to open their second location at 27 East Ave. in the Lewiston Crossing shopping center, anchored by a Shaw’s supermarket. Their other location is in Brunswick.

The new studio will offer men’s and women’s cuts, and specialty services like color, fashion color and beard enhancement — guys this is for special occasions like a photo shoot. Customers can choose between a barber or stylist, depending on their needs, and can make a reservation online or through the store’s app.

A soft opening is planned for May 16, when they will offer free haircuts all day. “We want to start off giving back to the community,” Sewell said. “The first fruit, if you will.”

The grand opening is planned for June 7 and will feature food, music and more.

Business hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. They will be closed Saturdays.

Contact information:  207-241-2789, kingsandqueensmaine.com, on Instagram @kingsandqueenshairstudio.

Rusty Bus Brewing fermenting along!

Four years in the making, this local brew pub is getting closer to reality for owners Peter and Nicole Ouellette.

Across the street from Rinck advertising and across the alley from Mother India, renovation continues at the 120 Lisbon St. property as the wheels of bureaucracy slowly turn. They are waiting on federal paperwork from the Department of Treasury and finalizing permits with the state and the city before they can open to the public.

The Ouellettes won a business incubator contest called JumpstartME last year, an initiative backed by the Downtown Lewiston Association and the LA Metro Chamber of Commerce.

The vision for the brew pub is community-oriented and the owners are planning to hold events like a first-responder night and similarly themed nights. Live music, comedy and trivia nights are also in the plans. Brewmaster Peter Ouellette ultimately wants to put out 12 different brews on tap, but said he’ll likely start with six to eight. Look for a combination of several India pale ales, pale ales, lagers or Kölsch and of course a good, solid stout.

Rusty Bus Brewing wants to offer locally sourced ciders, some wine and nonalcoholic drinks as an alternative. Food will not come from a kitchen in the brewery, but Ouellette said they are talking with restaurants in the area to collaborate on bringing food in for patrons — restaurant owners take note!

As they get rolling, the plan is to open from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday. They hope to be open in time for July 4, but said they are aware of the realities of construction delays and increased wait times for paperwork, especially at the federal and state levels.

Keep monitoring the Buzz for updates!

The Buzz offers quick hits about trending area business happenings. Have a Buzzable tip? Contact business writer Christopher Wheelock at 689-2817 or cwheelock@sunjournal.com

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