Much-loved burger restaurant to shut down after eight years leaving locals ‘absolutely gutted’
A BELOVED burger restaurant has announced it will pull the plug after eight years next month.
Fast food spot The Meat Shack on Birmingham’s Thorp Street left loyal customers gutted when they announced their lease was coming to an end.
But revellers have been reassured after the restaurant’s owners said they were scouting out a new home for its relocation.
“It had to happen someday, and sadly that day is today! Our little ‘pop up’ is coming to an end after 8 years,” owners Paul and Cat wrote via a poignant Instagram post.
“The shack will be closing its Thorp Street doors on Saturday, 10th May.
“We managed to survive Covid and all the latest ups and downs of running a small business in this mad world we are all now living in, but this one is out of our hands, the lease has come to an end and the site is up for demolition/redevelopment so our time here has finally ran its course.
“It’s been a mad eight years here and we can’t express our thanks enough to every single customer/friend that has passed through the shack doors over those years.
“Also a massive thanks to all our amazing team over the years, we’ve been blessed with some absolute belters and I’m sure most of you reading will agree our staff have been a massive credit and formed the basis of what the shack is.
“Big love to our current team Blake, Sonny, Jenni and Dev who will be smashing them out for you until the end.
“We are leaving Thorp Street with our heads held high knowing we did our best and we still are the best.
“We’re not exactly sure what this means for the Meat Shack ATM as we haven’t managed to find a new home yet…
“Any ideas/suggestions drop them in a comment.
“It’s going to be a few more mad weeks here while we sort all this out, so please bear with us.
“It would be great to see all you guys down the shack for one last Mr C or Rnb.
“Or just come down grab a beer, drink us dry and say goodbye!
“We will be behind the bar or in the kitchen crying a lot.
“Either way we will be there until 10.05.25.”
TROUBLE ON THE HIGH STREET
Plenty of other retailers are closing stores across the high street as households lean more towards online shopping and amid high business rates.
Soaring inflation in recent years has also dented shoppers’ pockets.
The Centre for Retail Research’s latest analysis suggests 13,479 stores, the equivalent of 37 each day, shut for good in 2024.
Of those, 11,341 were independent shops while 2,138 were shut by larger retailers.
The data also showed over half the stores that closed last year were shut due to the store or retailer going through insolvency proceedings.
This is when formal measures are taken to deal with tackling a business’s debt.
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter
MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.