Longtime burger joint Zack’s will close for good

A line begun to form outside Zack’s Hamburgers around 10am on Monday just hours after the closure was announced, much like the line that surrounded Price’s Chicken Coop two weeks ago.

What’s happening: Owners George and Elaine Demopolous told the Charlotte Five that their decision stems from pandemic-related setbacks coupled with the desire for a break after years of hard work.

The big picture: Zack’s joins a collection of old-school restaurants along the South Boulevard corridor to close in the past year. Zack’s, Price’s Chicken Coop, Mr. K’s and Bill Spoon’s had a combined 216 years in business.

• Each business owner cited different reasons for closing — from staffing shortages to a desire to rest and retire.

What’s clear, though, is that they’re closing up on their own terms while the larger South End neighborhood changes around them.

• County records show that Zack’s tax assessed value is $955,300.

Background: Zack’s opened in 1975. It’s known for its burgers and fries, but also offers affordable hotdogs, sandwiches, fish plates and deserts.

The bottom line: Losing Zack’s isn’t just about losing a good burger, it’s about losing another authentic Charlotte spot, another longstanding family-owned restaurant.

New restaurants often pull inspiration from the old-school spots, the burger joints and chicken coops chefs grew up eating at. Without Zack’s and Price’s and Mr. K’s and Bill Spoon’s, our taste buds will suffer for years to come.

• It’s a sad trend, local historian Tom Hanchett told us two weeks ago when Price’s closed.

Go deeper: Listen to this Axios Today podcast about why losing longstanding spots hurts