Burger Burger is coming back: North Shore restaurant set to reopen

Burger Burger appears set to return to Auckland’s North Shore, with “Reopening soon” posters appearing in the windows of its Torbay restaurant.

The reopening comes nearly three months after Burgerburger entered liquidation.

A notice posted anonymously in a Torbay Facebook group said the restaurant would reopen at 8am on Thursday.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming all our wonderful customers back and seeing some familiar faces!”

Burger Burger lists seven locations on its website, but it’s unclear whether any besides Torbay could reopen.

Gareth Hoole, a director of insolvency firm Ecovis KGA, told Stuff last week a buyer had been found for the business, but declined to disclose the purchaser or their plans for the chain.

A post shared in a Torbay Facebook group says the restaurant will reopen from 8am on Thursday.

“I expect they will make the appropriate announcements about their future plans in due course,” Hoole said.

Founded in Auckland in 2014, Burger Burger grew from a single restaurant into one of New Zealand’s best-known gourmet burger brands, with restaurants in Ponsonby, Commercial Bay, Eastridge, Takapuna, Torbay, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui.

The business entered administration in June before being placed into liquidation in July as directors and insolvency specialists sought a rescue package or buyer.

Posters on the inside of Burger Burger Torbay say the store will soon be reopening.

At the time, Hoole told the Herald the brand retained strong customer support despite its financial difficulties, describing Burger Burger as having “good brand loyalty and recognition”.

He estimated the business required about $1 million in fresh capital to continue operating and rejuvenate the chain.

Financial reports prepared during the administration process showed revenue had remained relatively stable at about $12m, but rising costs severely affected profitability.

The first liquidator’s report showed Burgerburger owed about $2.7m when it failed.

Burger Burger Holdings director Mimi Gilmour previously said mounting pressure from the cost-of-living crisis, rising wage costs and a sharp increase in meat prices had pushed the business into difficulty.

She said the company went from making money to losing about $20,000 a week as costs escalated.