It’s an unfortunate reality that most restaurants have a shelf life. Narragansett’s Crazy Burger has apparently reached the end of its run.
For those who remember, chef and owner Michael Maxon opened a ground-breaking place in 1995. It was where vegetarians and meat lovers could both satisfy their cravings. That was still rare in Rhode Island 30 years ago.
Today, competition for dining dollars is fierce and profit margins are notoriously slim. Ultimately, it was too much for Maxon to carry. He had the restaurant up for sale at $475,000. But on Friday, Nov. 28, he announced on social media that “We ran out of money before we were able to sell the business so we’re forced to close the doors.”
It’s often hard for restaurant owners to sell their business when they don’t own the building in which it is housed. That is the case with Crazy Burger on Boon Street. It leaves only equipment, recipes and reputation that is for sale.
A bystander walks his dog past Crazy Burger in Narragansett last spring. The restaurant was filmed as part of “Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service,” a food reality TV show that aired Sept. 10.
Maxon’s once iconic restaurant that evoked images of happy beach days, fun brunches and creative burgers, had fallen on hard times.
When “Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service” showed up to film an episode in April, the handwriting was on the wall. Reality TV shows like “Secret Service” feature restaurants in trouble, not thriving businesses. The concept of the show is that cameras are placed in the kitchen after an insider at the restaurant asked Ramsay’s team for help.
“I’m at a loss for words,” the bombastic Ramsay said less than three minutes into the episode. He had found mold on tofu, ants everywhere, the refrigerator too warm for food safety and mice running about the property. During cooking, he noted cross-contamination.
In an interview after the show aired, Maxon said there was no insider. He said he believed that celebrity chef Guy Fieri sent Ramsay to help the restaurant.
In 2010, Guy Fieri featured Crazy Burger on his “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” show on the Food Network. He remained an ally of Maxon.
When Crazy Burger opened in 1995, it was popular with locals and tourists. Lines were out the door in 2010 when the restaurant was featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” on the Food Network. But the 30-year-old restaurant is struggling now.
The cringeworthy Ramsay show may have extended the life of the restaurant. But ultimately, the publicity could not save it. With the popular Boon Street Market and The Bike Stop Cafe nearby, Crazy Burger had lots of competition for dining dollars.
It’s an abrupt end for Maxon who at 64 has said he is ready for retirement.
“It is difficult to express the gratitude we’ve had for all your love and support over the last 30 years,” Maxon wrote on social media. “We will miss serving you one and all and we wish you all the best over the holiday season.”
Maxon did not immediately return a call.
Crazy Burger will now live on in memories from a time when it was famous for its made-from-scratch vegetarian burgers as well as beef, lamb, chicken, salmon or turkey burgers. Vegetarians will remember brunches with scrambled tofu or eggless French toast. They made a vegetarian gateau with layers of grilled, baked vegetables. They were known for substituting tofu for just about anything.
“What struck me going back in time was that Crazy Burger was one of the first restaurants I remembered going to that made vegetarians feel welcomed and actually celebrated,” said Providence’s Jill Tobak. “Although I’m not a vegetarian, I mostly eat non-meat meals and loved that they always had an array of creative, delicious options on their menu.”
She said Amara’s on Wickenden Street in Providence was another such place. That vegetarian restaurant and market operated from 1978 to 1987.
So a 30-year shelf life for Crazy Burger is pretty impressive.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Crazy Burger in Narragansett closed months after Gordon Ramsay show
