After working in many Bergen County restaurants, Steve Quilliam was looking for a spot to start his own fast-food place.

With blueprints for 10 different concepts in his head, Quilliam stopped at an empty pizzeria, a spot where “at least 11 restaurants had failed.” The landlord showed him the pizza oven and according to Quilliam, “I was trying to figure how much business I could do there at one time. You can’t put a pizza in till you take one out. So that wasn’t going to work. But there wasn’t room to do more.”

On the drive home, Steve came up with his new business plan: sliders, those small patties that fit between dinner-roll-sized buns. They could be prepared more quickly than pizza–and because they take up less space, more could be prepared at one time. So began the story of Quillys.

Then the real genius: the choices. Quillys offers “almost anything you can think of, really, that can go on a bun.”

From healthy to "guilty pleasure," diners can pick from 22 choices: from burgers to falafel to lobster. Add the 13 sauces and 10 “extra” choices and there are literally thousands of possible combinations.

Quillys also offers healthy salads and appetizing starters. Every item is made by hand (except the fries), and prices are more than fair. Quilliam just may have come up with the definitive “can’t-say-no” menu.

In fact, so many people have not said “no” since Quillys opened in August 2009, that Quillys by the Sea will open this summer on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, featuring gourmet hot dogs. A third location is planned for Bergen County by November. Quilliam plans to add two more by 2012.

His secrets are no secret.

Knowing his business is first. “Food is in my blood; for 21 years, I’ve worked everywhere from hot dog stands to five-star restaurants and done every job. You have to know the trends. Just about everybody eats fast food. “

Hard work is next. “I believe I was put on this earth to work and to work hard.” Working seven days a week, the 34-year-old entrepreneur wears any and every hat but also relies on a great, hard-working staff.

Last? Head-down, dogged determination. “I can’t fail. I have to be successful. Nobody ever made it in this location. But they’re not me. “

Quillys

27-03 Broadway

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

201-773-3646

Parking around the corner

Quillysgourmetsliders.com

Photo: Steve Quilliam, Krystal Polyi, Michael Obsuth, all of Fair Lawn.