News Summary
Chubby’s Burgers has permanently closed its second restaurant on Percival Rd. in Columbia, announced via their Facebook page. The closure comes less than a year after opening, due to business and personal reasons. Despite the setback, the original Blythewood location remains operational and continues to serve loyal customers. Founded as a food truck in 2020, Chubby’s Burgers made significant strides in the local dining scene but now faces challenges in expanding their presence further.
Columbia – Chubby’s Burgers has permanently closed its second location at 106 Percival Rd. in Columbia, less than a year after its grand opening. The announcement was made on April 24, through the restaurant’s official Facebook page, indicating that the decision resulted from both business and personal reasons.
On the last day of operation, the restaurant acknowledged the support from patrons since its launch in August 2024. This closure marks a significant change for the fast-casual dining establishment, which gained recognition for its menu offerings, including smashburgers, hot dogs, quesadillas, philly cheesesteaks, and salads.
Despite the setback in Columbia, Chubby’s Burgers continues to thrive at its original location in Blythewood. The Blythewood location, which opened its doors in February 2022, has shown resilience after facing challenges of its own, including a fire shortly after opening that temporarily forced the restaurant to close.
Background of Chubby’s Burgers
Chubby’s Burgers was founded by Chris Sarant, who initially launched the brand as a food truck in the summer of 2020 after losing his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The food truck quickly garnered attention for its quality and flavors, leading to the decision to establish a brick-and-mortar presence.
The success of the food truck laid the groundwork for Chubby’s expansion into a full restaurant, with the Blythewood location becoming the first physical establishment. Following its opening, Chubby’s set out to grow its footprint in the Columbia area by opening the Percival Rd. location in mid-2024, aiming to tap into a new customer base in the bustling Forest Acres area.
Impact on the local community
The abrupt closure of the Columbia franchise will undoubtedly have an impact on the local food scene. Many patrons have expressed their disappointment on social media, showcasing the restaurant’s popularity and signaling a potential gap in the market for gourmet fast-casual dining options in the area.
The Future of Chubby’s Burgers
While the forest acres location has closed, the Blythewood restaurant remains active and continues to serve a loyal customer base. The brand’s journey from food truck to successful restaurant has provided valuable lessons on resilience and adaptability in the business landscape. It is yet to be seen whether there might be plans for further expansion or another attempt at establishing a new location in the future.
Chubby’s Burgers has carved out a niche for itself within Columbia’s competitive food scene, and the remaining Blythewood location holds the potential for growth and continued community support. As the landscape of dining options in the region evolves, local residents will keenly watch how this brand adapts and thrives amidst these changes.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Columbia Faces Surge in Restaurant Closures Amid Safety Concerns
Additional Resources
- The State
- Wikipedia: Columbia, South Carolina
- Post and Courier
- Google Search: Chubby’s Burgers Columbia
- Columbia Basin Herald
- Google Scholar: Columbia SC food scene
- Patch
- Encyclopedia Britannica: fast-casual dining
- Columbia Missourian
- Google News: North American restaurant closures
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
