May 13--Hamburger Mary's co-owners Ashley and Brandon Wright are identical twins, but you'll be able to tell the difference between them Sunday night.
Ashley Wright dresses in drag to check on the operations of the burger chain, which has locations in Andersonville and Oak Park, on Sunday's episode of "Undercover Boss." Ashley Wright plays a performer at one of the restaurants, which is known for its over-the-top entertainment, while Brandon Wright trains as a server with a waitress focused on upselling.
"The coolest disguise was when I got to do drag for a day. I've done drag before, but never to put on an actual show," Ashley Wright said in a recent interview with the Tribune. "It was interesting to see that part of it. To actually have people expecting you to entertain them, it was an experience. It was hard."
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The chain began in San Francisco in 1972 and has 14 locations, including the Oak Park spot that opened in April. The Wrights, who live in Andersonville, went undercover at the restaurants in Jacksonville, Fla.; Long Beach, Calif.; and Kansas City, Mo.
The brothers filmed a sit-down interview for the show in November in Chicago, but said it would be impossible to disguise themselves here because they visit the Andersonville location daily.
They said the show's producers picked the employees that trained with them.
"The biggest takeaway, for me, is really just to appreciate the people that work for you. Sometimes in a working relationship you don't know all the struggles," Brandon Wright said.
The brothers plan to hold a viewing party at the Andersonville location, 5400 N. Clark St., when the CBS show airs at 8 p.m.
"I'm not going to lie, not all of it was 100 percent peachy. There were some parts that were not pleasant," Ashley Wright said. "I think overall, the experience was positive and it's going to show Hamburger Mary's in a positive light."
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