A Smashburger location in Colorado. Photo from Twitter

The Mohegan Tribe will open the first Smashburger location in Connecticut this December.

The restaurant will be located at the Waterford Commons, a shopping mall about 12 miles south of the reservation. It's part of the tribe's economic diversification effort.

"Smashburger will continue our tribe's reputation for bringing the best to our region,” Chairman Kevin Brown said in a statement, according to news reports.

The tribe plans to open up to 16 Smashburger locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The chain is based in Colorado.

Get the Story:
Mohegans to open Smashburger restaurant in Waterford (The New London Day 9/16)
Mohegan Tribe To Open Smashburger In Waterford (The Hartford Courant 9/16)
Cheeseburgers & Wood Pellets in Paradise : Mohegan Diversification Goes From Fat to Frying Pan (Indian Country Today 9/15)

Related Stories:
Mohegan Tribe breaks ground on first of 15 chain restaurants (07/23)
Mohegan Tribe continues efforts to diversify economic holdings (07/15)
Mohegan Tribe to bring 16 Smashburger locations to Northeast (06/06)
Mohegan Tribe diversifies economy with wood pellet factories (5/30)