Guilty pleasure eatery Cheesy Stuffed Burger has announced they’ll be shuttering their downtown storefront by the end of July – though owner Mark Encke says the food truck will still be out and about.
“At this time I intend on keeping the food truck. I’m not ready to shut the door on Cheesy completely, but the storefront has to go. We will continue to rock out all these amazing summer events with our truck, and I’ll keep you all posted on what’s next for Cheesy as things continue to take shape,” said Encke in a social media post.
Exactly what motivated the decision is no mystery.
Encke straightforwardly said, “Since the pandemic began our profit margin has gotten smaller and smaller. Increased food costs and increased labor cost have left my family and I working really hard for a very small amount of net income. It’s come to a point where I need to make the decision that is best for my family. As much as I LOVE owning/operating this business, what is most important to me is taking the best care of my 3 little boys and incredible wife that I can! Cheesy is just not the best way to do that anymore. We have no health insurance, no 401K, no real paid time off, and I constantly lack the ability to “clock off” and carve out important time with my family.”
Cheesy Stuffed Burgers is not alone, longtime local staples like Nearly Normals, Mongolian Grill and FireWorks Pub & Pizza closed their doors over the course of the pandemic, and industry insiders believe more waves of post-pandemic closures could impact the sector.
In social media, Encke expressed deep gratitude for the years he’s had the storefront and the support he’s received – folks responded with fond reminiscences and well wishes. The eatery had fed a number of Advocate editors over the years, and we too will miss them.
Cheesy Stuffed Burgers started in 2012 with a food truck, they opened the downtown storefront in 2018.
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