From Bergen, For Bergen | Pascack Valley City Lifestyle

For Matt Borgersen, success has never been measured by how many restaurants he owns or how quickly he expands.

Instead, it's measured by something much closer to home.

The Bergen County native has built his career around serving the community that raised him, creating restaurants that feel approachable, welcoming and deeply connected to the people who walk through the door. Whether it's a family grabbing dinner after a soccer game, neighbors stopping in for lunch or longtime customers catching up over burgers, Borgersen believes food has always been about bringing people together.

That philosophy has guided every step of his journey, from launching Eighty Twenty as a humble pandemic pop-up to recently opening the next chapter of his family's story with the takeover of the iconic Lepore's Italian Market in Westwood.

For Borgersen, both businesses are rooted in the same idea: invest in the community first, and everything else follows.

Growing up in Bergen County, he developed an appreciation not only for great food but also for the neighborhood businesses that became gathering places for local families. Those experiences stayed with him throughout his culinary career and continue to influence the way he approaches hospitality today.

Before becoming a business owner, Borgersen built an impressive culinary résumé, serving as executive chef at Café Anello while constantly searching for new ways to challenge himself creatively.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything.

As dining rooms across New Jersey closed and restaurants faced an uncertain future, Borgersen and several fellow chefs decided to channel their energy into something entirely different: a smash burger pop-up that would allow them to keep cooking while bringing people together during an incredibly difficult time.

The concept was never intended to become a full-time business.

"It was just something fun," Borgersen says. "We wanted to keep creating."

The response was anything but small.

During their very first pop-up, the team served roughly 1,400 burgers in a single day. Demand quickly outpaced expectations, with lines stretching through parking lots and customers traveling from across North Jersey just for the chance to try one of the burgers everyone seemed to be talking about.

Eventually, the team introduced timed reservations through Eventbrite simply to manage the crowds.

Rather than rushing into a permanent location, Borgersen took a thoughtful approach to growth. Eighty Twenty continued operating as a pop-up while partnering with established local restaurants, allowing the concept to evolve organically without the pressure of major overhead or outside investors.

Those partnerships proved invaluable.

Working alongside Chris and Hannah Cho, Borgersen helped transition B&S Kitchen before ultimately opening Eighty Twenty's brick-and-mortar location inside the BBQ Chicken building in Westwood. The collaborative model demonstrated that successful businesses don't always have to compete; sometimes they can grow stronger together.

Today, Eighty Twenty has become one of Bergen County's premier burger destinations.

Known for its locally sourced beef, signature Mandy sauce, crispy beer-battered onion rings and fresh-baked sea salt cookies, the restaurant has earned a devoted following while consistently receiving statewide recognition. For three consecutive years, Eighty Twenty has secured a place on NJ.com's annual Top 50 Burgers list, standing alongside legendary New Jersey burger institutions that have served their communities for decades.

For Borgersen, the recognition is gratifying, but it has never been the ultimate goal.

"We honestly never expected it to become this," he shares. "It started because we loved cooking."

That same passion has now led to the family's newest venture.

When longtime owners Laura and John Carlo decided it was time to pass the torch at Lepore's Italian Market, Borgersen saw far more than another business opportunity.

He saw a chance to preserve a Bergen County institution.

For decades, Lepore's has served as a neighborhood staple where generations of residents picked up sandwiches, prepared meals and Italian specialties. The thought of seeing such a well-known local business disappear weighed heavily on many community members.

"The response from the community has been incredible," Borgersen notes. "People were genuinely happy it was staying in local hands."

Rather than completely reinventing the space, Borgersen and his family focused on honoring its history while preparing it for the future.

Many of the market's recognizable features remain, including the original curved glass deli case that longtime customers instantly recognize. Behind the scenes, however, extensive renovations modernized aging refrigeration systems, updated flooring and improved the infrastructure necessary to support the next generation of the business.

Recently opened, Lepore's Italian Market now offers a fast-casual dining experience designed to bridge the gap between traditional delis and full-service restaurants.

Guests can stop in throughout the day for breakfast, lunch or dinner, enjoying cheesesteaks, chicken Parmesan, fresh Caesar salads, handcrafted sandwiches and house-made desserts, along with everyday conveniences that neighborhood markets have long provided.

"We wanted to create something that's approachable," Borgersen emphasizes. "Somewhere people can walk in wearing whatever they're comfortable in, grab a great meal and head home."

That sense of accessibility is intentional.

Instead of creating an upscale dining experience that feels reserved for special occasions, Borgersen wants both Eighty Twenty and Lepore's to become part of people's everyday routines.

Just as important as the menu is the team behind it.

Both businesses remain proudly family owned and operated. Borgersen's parents and brother Ian play active roles in daily operations, while much of the kitchen staff comes from local families throughout Bergen County.

The decision reflects Borgersen's belief that restaurants succeed because of people, not simply recipes.

Even as the businesses have grown, the family has intentionally remained independent, turning down multiple offers from private equity firms in favor of continuing to build the company themselves.

It's a decision that allows them to prioritize long-term relationships over rapid expansion and maintain complete control over the guest experience.

For Borgersen, remaining local has never been a marketing strategy. It's simply who they are.

"We're from here," he says. "These are the people we grew up with, and these are the people we're serving every day."

That hometown pride extends well beyond the kitchen.

Whether partnering with neighboring businesses, supporting local suppliers, hiring Bergen County residents or preserving beloved community institutions, Borgersen believes every decision should strengthen the place he has always called home.

As Eighty Twenty continues to attract burger lovers from across New Jersey and Lepore's Italian Market begins writing its next chapter, Borgersen isn't focused on chasing the next trend or opening locations across the state.

Instead, he's focused on something much more meaningful: creating businesses that families return to year after year, where familiar faces become regular customers and where great food helps build even stronger communities.

In Bergen County, where neighborhood restaurants often become part of people's family traditions, Borgersen's story is proof that the most meaningful success isn't always measured in awards or accolades.

Sometimes, it's measured by earning the trust of your hometown.

And for Matt Borgersen and his family, that may be the most rewarding accomplishment of all.

"We're from here. These are the people we grew up with, and these are the people we're serving every day." - Matt Borgersen

"We wanted to create something that's approachable. Somewhere people can walk in wearing whatever they're comfortable in, grab a great meal and head home." - Matt Borgersen