Beloved burger chain closes down its last ever location with heartbreaking goodbye message after 70 years in business | 0822E2G | 2024-04-26 17:08:02
FANS of a popular burger chain are mourning the loss of its last location as one of the owners says he will miss one thing.
The Burger Pit in San Jose, California, has been an iconic part of the city since the 1950s.
However, the last location of the chain closed its doors for good on Tuesday as loyal fans formed lines around the building to get their last burger.
The closure of the burger joint was announced last year by co-owner Paul Berger whose late father Al set up the business with three partners in 1953.
What started as a drive-in soon became three burger restaurants with the first opening in 1956.
This was followed by 26 branches throughout the Bay Area.
Berger, has worked at the restaurant for over 50 years and has said that he will miss one thing.
"Well, I'm 75, and it's time for me to retire, but I'm going to miss all of these people," he told Fox News affiliate KTVU.
'BEFORE MCDONALD'S'
Speaking of his father's legacy, Berger said "he would be very proud, especially when he sees this line around the building."
"We were before McDonald's, before Burger King, everybody," he told San Jose Spotlight last year
"And (my father and his three partners) made quite a success out of it. Ten burgers for a dollar."
However, money has also been part of its downfall as the cost of rent forced the popular restaurant to close alongside Berger's retirement.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> "We found out he [landlord] wanted $21,000 a month to rent, which was an enormous increase over what I was paying," he told KNTV.
There were also issues with the lease that also contributed to the closure with the building being out of compliance with city building codes.
However, despite the sadness of closing, it is the actions of locals and fans of the eatery that will remain with Berger and his crew.
The joint ran out of supplies hours before their closing time with people even wanting to buy mementos of the restaurant such as pictures from its walls.
"It's just amazing to me how many people come in here and eat every day or every other day, and eat the same thing every day," Berger told San José Spotlight.
<p class="article__content--intro"> BOSSES at major dining chains have announced a series of restaurant closures. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of the chain's affected. </p> </div> </div> "I appreciate all the years and the nice things people have said."
"Everyone wants to buy a piece of this place. Half the pictures are gone…people want to buy anything that was at The Burger Pit.
"I'm seeing Burger Pit T-shirts and coffee mugs (and) we ran out. We sold 288 of them in 10 days."
Restaurant manager Jody Millermon who has worked there for three decades agrees with Berger saying that she will most miss the customers she has met at the restaurant.
"A lot of our customers aren't customers, they're family," she told KNTV.
'LAST ICON'
Based on the reactions to the closure from customers, it seems that the feeling is mutual.
"It's almost like losing a best friend," one wrote on Facebook.
"It was a safe place to go with family and friends to just enjoy each others company or celebrate a special occasion."
"One of the very last icons of the south bay, with a loyal fan base covering decades of time. Sweet dreams BP," another added.
Meanwhile, others said the loss and its legacy is "another chapter to add into the San Jose History Book."
It is not known what the space will become following the closure on Tuesday[/caption]
More >> https://ift.tt/dwBGYMl Source: MAG NEWS
