Bye-bye, burgers. Downtown Raleigh hamburger joint to close.
Get ready to say goodbye to burgers, fries and milkshakes in Moore Square.
Empire Eats, owner of Square Burger, is not renewing its lease with the city to operate the cafe at Moore Square.
The restaurant group has been the sole operator of the cafe since the downtown park on Blount Street opened after a two-year renovation in 2019. The restaurant’s lease will officially end Jan. 14, 2024.
A memo to the Raleigh City Council gave no reason for the decision but said “a lot of work is planned in and around Moore Square to create a safe and welcoming area of the downtown.”
A phone call and email to Empire Eats from The News & Observer were not returned Monday.
The city will begin searching for a new operator later this fall with hopes of a new restaurant opening in early spring.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published September 26, 2023 at 10:22 AM.
