Iconic Grand Rapids Burger Joint to Close After Decades of Service

A beloved fixture on Grand Rapids’ northeast side, Fat Boy Burgers, is closing its doors after more than 70 years of serving up classic burgers. The iconic burger joint, has been a staple since the 1950s. They recently announced they will shut down at the end of the month due to a series of tough financial challenges.

The owners took to Facebook to share their heart-wrenching decision, stating, "It is with heartbreak that we write this post to tell you that we have come to the difficult decision to close Fat Boy Burgers. We are absolutely devastated." They went on to describe how a series of setbacks—ranging from the pandemic to inflation—led to the closure of their beloved business.

Like many small restaurants, Fat Boy faced the harsh realities of COVID-19, which caused significant disruptions. The owners revealed that, before the pandemic, things were looking up for the restaurant, saying, "We had our most profitable year and we had just completed the process to add beer to the business. Things were looking bright!" However, the pandemic hit them hard, and despite investing their life savings to stay afloat, which caused it's own challenges.

Fat Boy experienced a sharp decline in business, especially during months of road construction that made it difficult for customers to reach the restaurant, causing a staggering 70% drop in revenue. Inflation and rising costs have only made things worse. Earlier in the year, they tried to put the business up for sale in hopes to save it.

Read More: Fat Boy Burgers in Grand Rapids, Mich. For Sale

As a final effort, the owners are asking for the community’s support in their last weeks, hoping to take care of their loyal employees and vendors. They’ve set up a GoFundMe page to help cover these costs, adding, “We want to end this chapter on a positive note.”

For decades, Fat Boy has been a part of the Grand Rapids community, serving classic burgers, breakfast, and more. As the owners prepare for their final days, they encourage customers to stop by one last time and enjoy a meal, sharing their gratitude for the support they’ve received over the years.

This closure is a reminder of why it is so important to support our West Michigan local businesses. "If we do not collectively as a society make the intentional choice to spend our dollars with them instead of corporately financed businesses, there will be no family-owned businesses left, and that would be a travesty," the owners emphasized. For now, locals have one last chance to savor the nostalgia of Fat Boy Burgers before they're gone forever.