Barley & Burger’s Hillsborough Street outpost abruptly went dark this week after barely three months in business, leaving an empty dining room and a “for rent” sign in the window of a longtime restaurant space near NC State. Owners handed the keys back to the landlord on Tuesday, and by Wednesday the storefront was already posted for lease.
Closure Confirmed By Local Reporting
According to The News & Observer, the Raleigh location, which opened in late November, has now closed for good. The paper reports the owners returned the space on Tuesday. Multiple requests for comment went unanswered, and by Wednesday a “for rent” sign was visible in the window.
Brief Run On Hillsborough Street
The chain had announced plans to move into 1900 Hillsborough St. – the former David’s Dumpling & Noodle Bar site – months earlier, as reported by What Now Charlotte. Local delivery and directory listings soon reflected the new Raleigh address as the brand pushed into the Triangle.
Who’s Behind Barley & Burger
Barley & Burger was founded in Rocky Mount and is run by restaurateurs Brandon Clarke and Travis Ellis alongside author Etaf Rum, according to the vendor profile at Old North State Food Hall. The group’s own site lists additional locations and menu offerings for the brand, which had spots in Rocky Mount, Smithfield and Charlotte.
What This Means For The Local Market
The short life of the Hillsborough Street outpost is another reminder that running a restaurant in the Triangle is a tough business even as the region grows. Data from DoorDash shared with analysts shows about 94% of Raleigh restaurants that were open in one year were still open a year later – a resiliency rate that still leaves room for churn, according to Axios Raleigh…