A cult-favourite burger chain in Sydney has officially closed its doors following financial stress caused by rapid growth, soaring inflation and rising interest rates.
After almost seven years in business, Burger Head closed its remaining two restaurant locations in Penrith and Botany on Sunday.
The burger chain once had four restaurants across Sydney – in Penrith, Botany, Casula and Blacktown – as well as three food trucks.
Burger Head first opened in Penrith in 2017 by friends Joshua Deluca, Timothy Rosenstrauss and Richard Borg.
The trio, who were all in their early twenties, described themselves as ‘three young fellas with not much life experience but kitchen experience’.
After almost seven years of business, Burger Head closed its remaining two restaurant locations in Penrith and Botany
Burger Head first opened in Penrith in 2017 by friends Joshua Deluca (left), Timothy Rosenstrauss (right) and Richard Borg
However, due to soaring inflation, rising interest rates and its rapid post-Covid expansion, the business was hit with financial strain which it could not recover from.
Rosenstrauss and DeLuca shared on social media their ‘devastating decision’ to shut Burger Head’s brick-and-mortar stores.
‘And just like that, all good things must come to an end,’ they wrote on Instagram.
‘The past seven years have been nothing shy of an incredible journey of ups, downs, and everything in between, but unfortunately, we’ve decided to hang up the apron.
‘Although it’s been a sh***y 18 months, we’re still beyond proud of what we’ve accomplished in such a tough industry, in the toughest four years of it ever.’
The owners explained ‘things started to unravel’ when they pushed to expand their business after the Covid pandemic.
The pair opened their Blacktown and Casula restaurants within 10 weeks of each other in 2022.
In the same year, Burger Head also opened a production kitchen in Wetherill Park.
The burger chain also had a fifth store set to open in Box Hill; however, the owners ‘pulled out’.
‘In hindsight, if we’d only done one of these stores and kept our existing prep kitchen we would’ve had the resources to really execute store number three and would still be in business,’ Rosenstrauss and DeLuca wrote.
The owners also slammed former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Philip Lowe, saying he was partly responsible for the business’ downfall.
‘If you own any property or a business, there’s a good chance you know this fella and if you’re like us you have a voodoo doll of Mr Lowe,’ they said.
‘I feel for the pain that the interest rate rises [have] caused everyone because we’ve certainly felt it.
‘Many households have had to cut back on luxuries, which for many, is a meal out at your favourite burger joint.’
Burger Head launched in 2017 and became widely popular for its burger recipes, offering treats such as the Twisties burger
Customers were reassured they could still get their hands on Burger Head’s famous burgers and fried treats as the business will pivot to ‘just the trucks’ (pictured)
However, the owners reassured customers they could still get their hands on their famous burgers and fried treats as Burger Head was pivoting to ‘just the trucks’.
‘I want to make it clear that this is not the death of Burger Head but merely a major pivot for us,’ they wrote.
‘Where we’ve been in the restaurant business with food trucks, we’re continuing on with just the trucks.
‘To be honest, we thought we wouldn’t make it past one year in business, so to say we got into our seventh year is f****** amazing!’
Burger Head launched in 2017 and became widely popular for its burger recipes, offering treats such as the Twisties burger.