Hotbirds and 7th Street Burger Opened on Nassau Street

Two new fast food establishments opened in Princeton during the summer of 2026.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A bustling brick-fronted commercial building facade on a Princeton sidewalk with classic glass storefront windows and warm evening cafe lighting. — Hotbirds and 7th Street Burger opened on Nassau Street in Princeton this past summer, adding to the growing number of fast-casual dining options in the city's business district. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Hotbirds and 7th Street Burger launched on Nassau Street in Princeton this past summer. These openings follow the arrival of three other fast-casual dining spots on the street last winter.

Why it matters

Property owners are actively recruiting fast food brands to Nassau Street to cater to local students, residents, and visitors. These establishments provide convenient, lower-cost dining options in the heart of the business district.

7th Street Burger operates 37 locations across the East Coast, while Hotbirds maintains a second site in Montclair, New Jersey. These restaurants join three other fast food joints that opened on Nassau Street last winter.

The players

7th Street Burger

This fast food chain operates 37 locations throughout the East Coast.

Hotbirds

This restaurant operates a second location in Montclair, New Jersey.

The details

The restaurants provide counter service and quick meal options to the local Princeton community. 7th Street Burger remains open until midnight, while Hotbirds serves customers until 10 p.m. daily.

Three fast food restaurants opened on Nassau Street in the winter of 2025-2026.
7th Street Burger opened in July 2026.
Hotbirds opened in August 2026.

Market Landscape

The arrival of these chains follows a pattern of high-turnover fast food expansion in university-adjacent districts. This influx of national brands intensifies competition among quick-service providers vying for the limited student consumer base.

Students and residents now have more late-night, low-cost dining options available on Nassau Street. These additions may influence where local consumers spend their meal budgets throughout the work week and weekend.

The takeaway

These openings reflect a broader effort by property owners to balance diverse retail options with the high demand for quick student meals. Residents can expect continued rotation in the local business district as owners seek brands with high student appeal.