Boston Restaurant Talk: burger chains

Showing posts with label burger chains. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Wahlburgers at MarketStreet Lynnfield Has Closed

Another location of a chain of burger spots with local roots has shut down.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Wahlburgers at MarketStreet Lynnfield is no longer in business, having closed on April 27. A message was sent to us giving more information on the closure:

After several wonderful years serving the Lynnfield community, we have closed our doors at our 930 Market Street restaurant. The lease had expired and we were unable to negotiate an equitable extension. We are incredibly grateful to our loyal guests, dedicated team members, and the local community for their support over the years. This location has meant a great deal to us, and we are proud of the memories and meals we’ve shared here. While we are closing this chapter, we’re excited to welcome our guests to continue enjoying our satisfying burgers at our nearby locations throughout the Boston area: two in Logan Airport, and one in Fenway, Springfield, Hingham and Plainville. Check out wahlburgers.com to find one closest to you!

This is the second location in the Greater Boston area to shutter over the past year or so, as the South Bay outlet in Dorchester closed its doors last spring. (The chain was founded by Mark, Donnie, and Paul Wahlberg.)

The website for Wahlburgers can be found at https://www.wahlburgersrestaurant.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Burgerim in Burlington Has Closed

A gourmet burger chain that got its start overseas has closed its sole Boston-area location.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Burgerim in Burlington is no longer in operation, with a sign out front saying that it has permanently closed. The dining spot first opened at Middlesex Marketplace in the early part of 2020, being part of a chain with roots in Israel though it is now headquartered in California.

The address for the now-closed location of Burgerim in Burlington was 90 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.burgerim.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, November 01, 2023

Fuddruckers in Saugus Is Closing

One of two locations of a burger chain that was once headquartered in the local area is going to be shutting down.

According to a press release, Fuddruckers in Saugus is closing its doors around the end of the year, with franchise owner Adrienne LeBlanc saying that "This is not the outcome we had hoped for because we want to keep the restaurant open. Despite multiple attempts to negotiate a fair lease, however, we simply couldn't come to an agreement with our landlord, and we were forced to make this very difficult decision." The Reading location of Fuddruckers will remain open, with that outlet continuing to book fundraisers and offer catering as well.

Fuddruckers is headquartered in Texas, but it once had its headquarters in Beverly and Danvers.

The address for the Saugus location of Fuddruckers is 900 Broadway (Route 1), Saugus, MA, 01906. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.fuddruckers.com/

[January 19, 2024 update: According to its social media, Fuddruckers in Saugus is now closed.]

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, December 01, 2022

Shake Shack Opens at the Prudential Center in Boston on December 5

A growing chain of burger spots is on the verge of opening another outlet in the local area.

According to a press release, Shake Shack opens at the Prudential Center on Monday, December 5, with this being its thirteenth location in Massachusetts and its fourth within the Boston city limits (the others being on Newbury Street, in the Seaport District, and in Downtown Crossing). The Pru location of the New York-based chain was first announced in June of this year and its opening comes on the heels of another new outlet debuting at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham in late October.

The website for Shake Shack can be found at https://shakeshack.com/

[Earlier Article]
Shake Shack, Cava Plan to Open at the Prudential Center

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Friday, November 25, 2022

Red Robin in Braintree Has Closed

A chain of burger restaurants has said farewell to the Greater Boston area, shutting down its last location along/inside Route 128.

According to a source, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree is no longer in business, with the website for the chain confirming this, as that outlet is no longer shown within the locations page for Massachusetts. With the closing of this location and the Woburn outlet a couple of years back, the closest Red Robin to Boston is now in Foxborough, with others remaining in operation in Holyoke, Millbury, Plymouth, and Wareham.

Red Robin was established in Seattle in 1969 and is currently headquartered in Colorado. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.redrobin.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Tuesday, August 03, 2021

Shake Shack Opens at the Burlington Mall

A brand new location of a New York-based group of burger and shake spots has come to the Greater Boston area more than two years after it was first announced.

According to a press release, Shake Shack opens at the Burlington Mall today, taking over part of the space where Sears had been. The new location--which we first talked about here back in July of 2019--joins a number of others in the region, including in Boston's Seaport District, Downtown Crossing, and Back Bay, along with outlets in Cambridge's Harvard Square, Chestnut Hill, Dedham, Somerville, Watertown, and Woburn.

The website for Shake Shack can be found at https://www.shakeshack.com/

[Earlier Article]
Shake Shack Plans to Open a New Outlet at the Burlington Mall

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Tuesday, September 08, 2020

Parent Company of Fuddruckers Announces Liquidation Plans

The future of a burger chain that was once headquartered in the Greater Boston location is now in doubt.

According to an article from Restaurant Business, Luby's--which is the parent company of Fuddruckers--has decided to liquidate via the sale of its assets, with the plan being to dissolve both the Fuddruckers and Luby's brands. The post mentions that this still needs the approval of the company's shareholders, though even if it is approved, it isn't known how this could affect locations of Fuddruckers in the Greater Boston area (in Reading and Saugus), as they appear to be independently owned. This is a developing story, so keep checking back for updates as they come in.

Fuddruckers is headquartered in Texas, but it once had its headquarters in Beverly and Danvers.

[September 11 update: It appears that the Reading and Saugus locations of Fuddruckers will not be affected by the planned liquidation of the parent company, as a pair of Facebook posts from the Reading page mention that it is "not going anywhere" and is indeed independently owned and operated, while another post states that the Saugus location reopens today (the Reading location has been open as well). Thanks to one of our sources for bringing this to our attention.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, August 05, 2020

Smashburger Opens in Boston's Back Bay

A Colorado-based chain of burger spots has opened its very first location in Boston proper.

As reported here earlier, Smashburger is now open on Boylston Street in the Back Bay/Copley Square section of the city, with a Facebook post from the place indicating that it is open for takeout and delivery for now. The new location of the chain joins others in Attleboro, Medford, Natick, Plainville, and Westwood.

Denver-based Smashburger, which first started out in 2007, features meatball-shaped patties that are "smashed" on the grill.

The address for the new location of Smashburger in the Back Bay is 545 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain can be found at https://smashburger.com/

[Earlier Article]
Smashburger to Open in Boston

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Burgers in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Monday, August 03, 2020

Red Robin in Woburn Has Closed for Good

A chain of gourmet burger restaurants has shut down one of its two Boston-area locations.

According to information from a source, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews in Woburn is no longer in operation, with the website for the chain no longer showing the Washington Street location, and a message sent from the company confirms this, saying that it has indeed permanently closed. With the closing of the Woburn outlet, this means that the Braintree location of Red Robin is the only one remaining along/inside Route 128, with the next closest spot being in Foxborough.

Red Robin started out in Seattle in 1969 and is currently headquartered in Colorado; more than 500 locations can be found in the United States and Canada.

The address for the now-closed Red Robin in 369 Washington Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. The website for the chain is at https://www.redrobin.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Burgers in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Monday, June 29, 2020

Fuddruckers in Methuen Has Apparently Closed

It looks like a burger chain that was once headquartered in the Greater Boston location has closed one of its three Eastern Massachusetts locations.

According to a source, the Methuen outlet of Fuddruckers has shut down permanently, with a check within the locations section of the website seeming to confirm this, showing that it has been removed from the page. (A phone call placed to the Broadway Street eatery also indicates that the number has been disconnected.) With the closing of the Methuen location, Fuddruckers now has two locations remaining in the local area, with one in Reading and another in Saugus, and the only other location in New England can be found at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.

Fuddruckers is currently headquartered in Texas, but it once had its headquarters in Beverly and Danvers.

The address for the now-closed Fuddruckers in Methuen was 436 Broadway Street, Methuen, MA, 01844. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.fuddruckers.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Thursday, May 07, 2020

Update: Wahlburgers at South Bay Reopens After Closing "Indefinitely"

[Ed note: This article was updated on June 12 to reflect the fact that the restaurant is open once again.]

A growing chain of burger places that has a local connection has reopened one of its Boston locations after closing it down indefinitely during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to an article from the Dorchester Reporter, Wahlburgers at South Bay Town Center in Dorchester shuttered in early May, with a note out front saying "We have made the difficult decision to indefinitely close this location." An email sent to the Dorchester Reporter by the company stated the following:

"We have been doing our best to keep all of our corporate Wahlburgers locations open and serving our communities as long as we possibly can while we navigate these challenging times. Unfortunately, we had to make the difficult decision to indefinitely close our Dorchester location this past Sunday....Being our hometown, the decision did not come lightly. We are committed to continue supporting the frontline & hospital workers in the area and our Hingham, Lynnfield and Fenway locations will remain open to serve our guests and the broader Boston-area community."

A source told us on June 11 that the restaurant is open once again, with its outdoor patio being set up for diners starting today (Friday, June 12) according to a Facebook post from the place (indoor sections of restaurants cannot reopen until Step 2 of Phase 2, possibly in the next couple of weeks).

The Wahlburger chain is headed up by former Dorchester residents Mark, Donnie, and Paul Wahlberg.

The address for Wahlburgers at South Bay is 9 District Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02125. The website for the chain is at https://wahlburgers.com/

Thanks to Universal Hub for initially bringing this to our attention.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

Meat Shortage Hits Wendy's, With Nearly One Out of Five Locations Being Out of Beef

One of the largest burger chains in the country is facing a meat shortage.

According to an article from CBS Boston, approximately 18 percent of Wendy's restaurants are out of beef due to meat processing plant closures stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, with about 1,000 of the 5,000 outlets not serving burgers or other beef-based dishes for the time being. The post mentions that the chain is taking a particularly hard hit because it uses fresh beef rather than frozen meat, which is causing Wendy's to focus more on such items as chicken sandwiches and breakfast dishes.

Wendy's restaurants in some states are being affected even more than others because of the geographic locations of those meat processing plants that have closed, with approximately 30 percent of the outlets in New York State being out of fresh beef, for example.

The data on Wendy's comes from Stephens, a privately-held financial services firm.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, February 24, 2020

Burgerim Opens in Burlington

A gourmet burger chain that got its start overseas has opened its first Boston-area location.

According to a message sent to us from restaurant critic MC Slim JB, Burgerim is now open in Burlington, moving into a space at the Middlesex Marketplace on the Middlesex Turnpike. As mentioned in an article here earlier, the chain was initially established in Israel, though it is now headquartered in California, and their restaurants feature 1/3- and 1/4-pound hamburgers along with chicken sandwiches, falafel, salmon, and lamb burgers, and more.

The address for the new location of Burgerim in Burlington is 90 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.burgerim.com/

[Earlier Article]
Burgerim Plans to Open at Middlesex Marketplace in Burlington

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Fifteen Burgers in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Johnny Rockets in Acton Has Closed

A California-based chain of hamburger places that recently reopened one of its Boston-area locations is back down to two in the region.

According to a source, Johnny Rockets in Acton is closed, with a check on the locations section of the chain's website seeming to confirm this, showing only its Braintree and Burlington outlets (along with another restaurant in Agawam). No reason has been given for its closure, nor is it known what might move into the Massachusetts Avenue space, so stay tuned for updates.

The Braintree location of Johnny Rockets, which closed down in early January of 2018, opened back up late last summer.

The address for the now-closed location of Johnny Rockets in Acton was 387 Massachusetts Avenue (Route 111), Acton, MA, 01720. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.johnnyrockets.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Fifteen Burgers in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Tasty Burger Is Opening in Boston's Downtown Crossing

It looks like a local group of burger spots is opening a new location in the heart of downtown Boston.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, Tasty Burger is planning to open on Winter Street in Downtown Crossing, with the notice indicating that the new spot hopes to acquire a beer and wine license and that the space would include a large room with a dining area, bar, and kitchen. If approved, the new location of Tasty Burger would join others in the Fenway, Back Bay, North Station, and Harvard Square in Cambridge.

The Downtown Crossing outlet of Tasty Burger would be located a short distance south of another spot known for its burgers--a recently-opened outlet of Shake Shack on Washington Street.

The address for this new location of Tasty Burger in Downtown Crossing is 48 Winter Street, Boston, MA, 02108. The website for all locations can be found at https://www.tastyburger.com/

[June 24, 2020 update: Eater Boston states that the Downtown Crossing location of Tasty Burger is now open.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Burgers in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Thursday, October 03, 2019

Smashburger to Open in Boston

It looks like a Colorado-based chain of quick-casual burger restaurants is opening its fourth location in the Greater Boston area, and this one will open within the city itself.

According to a number of job posts, including one within the Craigslist site, Smashburger is getting ready to open a new outlet, with the Craigslist post saying "New Restaurant Opening in Boston!" while a corresponding map shows the South Boston/Dorchester area (though maps included within job posts are typically inaccurate). A search has not come up with an exact location for the upcoming dining spot, so we have reached out to the company for additional information and are waiting to hear back from them.

The Denver-based Smashburger chain was established in 2007, featuring meatball-shaped patties that are "smashed" on the grill, in order to help caramelize the beef and keep in the juices. Currently, Boston-area locations can be found in Medford, Natick, and Westwood, while two others a bit further out can be found in Attleboro and Plainville.

The website for Smashburger is at https://smashburger.com

[January 15, 2020 update: A licensing board hearing page indicates that the new location of Smashburger will be at 545 Boylston Street in the Back Bay/Copley Square area of the city, pending approval.]

[February 5, 2020 update: According to a tweet from @CopleyScott17, Smashburger will be moving into the space where Noon Mediterranean had been until closing in the summer of 2018.]

[August 3, 2020 update: The Boston Globe mentions that Smashburger is slated to open in the Back Bay on Wednesday, August 5.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Burgers in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes in Billerica Is Reopening

A couple of months ago, it was reported that a local outlet of a small Texas-based burger chain had closed down. Now we have learned that the place will soon be opening back up again.

According to an email, Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes in Billerica is getting ready to reopen, with the plan being to open its doors on September 16. The Boston Road eatery shuttered in the late spring, which followed the closing of its first Boston-area location in Jamaica Plain last fall; locations of the chain remain in operation in downtown Boston, Hudson, Mansfield, Northborough, and Sudbury.

Mooyah, which is headquartered in Plano, features burgers made with "never-frozen beef" as well as salads, handcut fries, and shakes.

The address for Mooyah in Billerica is 199 Boston Road, North Billerica, MA, 01862. The website for the chain is at https://www.mooyah.com/

[September 16 update: Based on various social media posts, Mooyah is now open once again in Billerica.]

[Earlier Article]
Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes in Billerica Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Burgers in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Monday, August 12, 2019

Johnny Rockets in Braintree Is Reopening

A chain of hamburger places that closed one of its Boston-area locations last year is apparently reopening the place.

According to a source, Johnny Rockets is returning to its space in the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, with a page within the simon.com site confirming that the restaurant is planning to open back up possibly on August 16. The dining spot, which closed down in early January of 2018, will rejoin existing locations in the region in Acton and Burlington.

Johnny Rockets, which is based in California, is known in part for its burgers, fries, and shakes.

The website for the chain can be found at https://www.johnnyrockets.com/

[August 20 update: A message sent to us today indicates that the Braintree location of Johnny Rockets has not yet reopened, and there isn't a specific opening date for the place as of now.]

[September 9 update: A sign out front at the South Shore Plaza says that Johnny Rockets is open once again.]

[Earlier Article]
Johnny Rockets in Braintree Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Burgers in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Monday, July 08, 2019

Shake Shack Plans to Open a New Outlet at the Burlington Mall

A New York-based group of burger and shake spots appears to be expanding further into the Greater Boston area, with a new outlet being planned for a suburban mall that also became home to a location of a legendary pizza spot a few weeks ago.

According to a source (Craig Foster), Shake Shack is looking to open at the Burlington Mall, with an application within the burlington.org site indicating that it would be somewhere within the old Sears space, which is being redeveloped. If approved, the new location of Shake Shack in Burlington would join others in Boston's Seaport District and Back Bay along with outlets in Cambridge's Harvard Square, The Street Chestnut Hill, and Legacy Place in Dedham--and another new location is on its way to the Arsenal Yards complex in Watertown as well. [Ed note: The Watertown location is now open, along with other new ones in Boston's Downtown Crossing, Somerville, and Woburn.]

The website for Shake Shack can be found at https://www.shakeshack.com/

[October 30 update: A press release has confirmed that Shake Shack will indeed be opening at the Burlington Mall, with the restaurant slated to debut in the spring of 2020.]

[July 30, 2021 update: According to a press release, the Burlington location of Shake Shack--whose planned opening last year was affected by the pandemic--will have its grand opening on Monday, August 2, and $1 will be donated to Project Bread for every burger sold that day.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, June 06, 2019

Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes in Billerica Has Closed

A small Texas-based burger chain that starting expanding into the region a couple of years ago has closed another one of its outlets in the Greater Boston area.

According to a source, Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes in Billerica is no longer in business, with a check on the locations page for the chain seeming to confirm this, showing that the Boston Road restaurant has been removed from the site. The closing of the Billerica outlet follows the shuttering of its first Boston-area location in Jamaica Plain last fall; it does appear that locations of Mooyah in downtown Boston, Hudson, Mansfield, Northborough, and Sudbury remain in operation.

The Mooyah chain, which is headquartered in Plano, offers burgers made with "never-frozen beef" along with hand-cut fries, salads, and milkshakes.

The address for this now-closed burger spot in Billerica was: Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes, 199 Boston Road, North Billerica, MA, 01862. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.mooyah.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Burgers in the Boston Area and Beyond]