Popular Atlanta burger spot Yeah Burger won’t reopen its Virginia-Highland location.
The property at 1017 North Highland Ave. NE. was listed for sale late last week by Steven Josovitz at the Schumacher Group. The as-is property includes “furniture, fixtures, equipment and rights to negotiate a new lease,” but does not include “rights to the use, or ownership of the business name, branding, signage, recipes, and books and records of Yeah Burger.”
Erik Maier, who owns Yeah Burger with business partner Kelly Wallace, said in a prepared statement that the pair planned to focus on other endeavors.
“This was not an easy decision. Our Virginia-Highland location was ready for full renovation too and that’s a time-consuming endeavor. We took an honest look at what we had on our plate for the remainder of 2020, and next year, and decided that we needed to focus on our other projects. We would like to sincerely thank the Virginia-Highland community for their support and patronage over the past 9 ½ years. We’ve been proud to serve the neighborhood.”
Wallace and Maier opened the restaurant in 2010. They also own a second Yeah! Burger as well as health-focused concept Upbeet, both in West Midtown. The pair is working on opening a second Upbeet location.
Upbeet has reopened for takeout service, while the Yeah Burger in West Midtown remains closed. Both Yeah! Burgers initially closed in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The West Midtown location is currently being renovated with new finishes and furniture and shelving for digital orders.
“We’re blessed to have been busy from day one, so after 10 years, the restaurant really needed some love,” Maier said. He said he and Wallace are hoping to reopen the restaurant in late fall with new decor and a new menu.
The restaurant’s menu features a variety of specialty burgers as well as a build-your-own burger option, hot dogs, sides, salads, kids options, ice cream, cocktails, beer and wine.
The Virginia-Highland Yeah Burger is the latest food and beverage concept casualty due to the coronavirus economic impact. Other recent closures include Cardinal in Grant Park, Gio’s Chicken at The Battery Atlanta and Highland Bakery in Decatur.
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