3 days ago
'50s-themed San Angelo burger restaurant shuts down
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — Grill-A-Burger, a San Angelo-based, '50s-themed diner specializing in burgers, was shut down in April after years of operation, the restaurant's owner has confirmed.
Katherine Martinez, the owner of Grill-A-Burger and a San Angelo realtor, stated that the restaurant officially closed at the end of April. She said multiple reasons guided her decision to shut the business down.
'It was a hard choice, but it was a personal choice,' Martinez said.
Chief among her reasons for closing Grill-A-Burger is her family. She said Grill-A-Burger began with her three teenage boys and niece, but has dwindled to just her over the years as her sons grew up, started families of their own and moved out of San Angelo.
'Me being a realtor and trying to run a restaurant, it was a lot,' Martinez said. 'At this point, I had to do what's right for my family and for myself.'
Personal health concerns also played a role in the closure. Martinez shared that she is facing her own health problems as her mother faces the aftermath of pancreatic cancer, issues that led her to reevaluate how she spends her time.
English Newsom Cellars to hold grand opening for San Angelo tasting room
'When you own a restaurant, you're basically married to it, and it became very, very difficult for me to leave town in order to take care of my family priorities that I needed to take care of,' Martinez said. 'It put a lot of stress on me.'
Martinez also cited rising food costs spurred by inflation as another driving factor behind the closure.
'Inflation in general, I think, has really hurt a lot of small businesses,' Martinez said.
Grill-A-Burger opened at 1025 N. Chadbourne St., the former home of Charcoal House, in November 2016. A second location was opened at 2833 Southland Blvd. in 2020 but was shut down amid a decline in business caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Martinez encouraged San Angelo residents to support local businesses by shopping and eating locally. She thanked those who have visited Grill-A-Burger over the years and provided her with fond memories.
'I just thank the community for their support,' Martinez said. 'We were open for almost 10 years, and that says a lot in the industry.'
With Grill-A-Burger now closed, the property the restaurant operated from is now for sale. Martinez encouraged those interested in purchasing the property to contact her at (325)-277-5636.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
