Five Star Burgers will close Sunday
Building housing eatery in dust-up with governor over unpaid bill has been sold
Five Star Burgers in Santa Fe was in a dust-up this week with no less a figure than Gov. Susana Martinez, leading to plenty of publicity for both.
Who would have thought the burger joint could make it back into the news again so quickly? Only those who knew the end was near.
The very last hurrah for the restaurant will come Sunday, when it closes its doors for good. Its demise was coincidental to what was termed a “misunderstanding” with Martinez, who employees said initially didn’t pay her tab for a bison burger and fried green
beans Wednesday afternoon.
Five Star employees on Friday said there were rumblings months ago of owner Bob Gontram closing the restaurant.
The building on Guadalupe Street in the DeVargas Center recently was sold, but employees were notified only this week of the closure.
The restaurant has been in business since 2012.
“It’s a family. We’re all very sad,” said Sarah Haines, a former manager who still comes to see her friends and colleagues.
Still, the restaurant’s 22 employees have used the episode to find some humor in the last few days as they face the loss of a job.
The chalkboard over the bar that advertises specials had the Burger of the Month on Friday as “The Susana Bison and Provolone” with the listed price as “free (for Susana only).”
One bartender said all the tap beers are brewed locally and the beef and bison are 100 percent natural and antibiotic-free. Many regulars said that’s why they kept returning.
“I like the burger. I like the food. I like the people who work here. It’s a shame it’s shutting down,” said Seferino Perea, who worked at the Department of Transportation and is now retired.
He and others said the restaurant was popular with downtown workers and Ski Santa Fe patrons who wanted a full meal after a day on the ski hill.
“It’s the best happy-hour price in town,” said Tony Masters, who drank light beer and touted the salad menu.
Valdez said the regulars have been discussing where to go next week. The Boxcar Santa Fe? Second Street Brewery? Jinja Bar & Bistro?
No matter, it won’t be the same.
“It’s a shame it’s shutting down,” said Perea. “We’re going to have a rosary tomorrow.”
Five Star Burgers also has locations in Taos and Albuquerque.
Contact Bruce Krasnow at brucek@ sfnewmexican.com.