Burlington’s Studebaker Pub and Diner closed
Customers say restaurant provided memories and options during COVID lockdowns
Studebaker Pub and Diner, a restaurant at 2535 Appleby Line in Burlington, closed last week after five years in operation.
Owners Naomi and Anand Maharaj announced Studebaker was closed “until further notice” in a March 1 Facebook post. Two days later, another post stated the closure was permanent.
“We are immensely grateful for your loyal patronage. This decision wasn’t easy, but we close with gratitude for the amazing community that supported us,” the post stated. “Our last day of operation was on February 29. While our doors are now closed, the memories will live on in our hearts. Thank you for being a part of our studebaker story.”
The message was reposted on the Burlington Together Facebook page, and several comments noted Studebaker’s takeout service during COVID.
“It was the place we chose to restart a group dining out rotation after lockdown,” one comment stated. “Burger day had become a pretty consistent tradition around our house that I will definitely miss.”
Another customer thanked the restaurant for creating memories.
“We enjoyed covid-takeout many times during the pandemic, and the breakfast sandwich and coffee deal became one of our fave items to take down to the lake. You gave us moments of respite to enjoy good food by the water at a time when the world felt so chaotic,” the comment stated.
The restaurant was also known for providing a venue for live music.
Studebaker opened in mid-February, 2019 — one year before the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
Shortly before the opening, an InsideHalton.com story reported the restaurant was a first-time endeavour for the couple, and something that they had been considering for many years.
“Naomi hails from the hospitality and restaurant industry and spent 13 years working at restaurants in Toronto, managed a bar on a Mariposa Cruise Line — as well as bartending in Fiji, New Zealand and Australia,” the story stated.
According to the February 2019 story, the restaurant’s name was “a word that Naomi liked saying as a youngster” and Anand loves cars.
Naomi declined to comment further on the closure at this time. But she said these are challenging times for all restaurants, especially independents.
In 2022, Studebaker made Open Table’s lists of the 100 Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in Canada and Top 100 Brunch Spots in Canada.