Financial pressures force Geelong’s Texas Hamburgers to close doors

A beloved Geelong cafe has closed its doors due to rising expenses.

Texas Hamburger Cafe in Mercer St. Picture: Alan Barber

A Geelong cafe that has been serving customers for more than 50 years has closed its doors as financial pressures take a toll.

Texas Hamburger has operated from its Mercer St address for everything from a lunchtime meal to a bite to eat after a big night out.

It is understood that a rent hike contributed to the closure, which occurred on December 24.

Its extensive menu features its famous burgers through to cakes and drinks.

The shop expanded to a double front with an open plan set-up almost two decades ago to allow more people to enjoy the food at the same time.

The business owners were contacted for comment.

The closure comes at a difficult time for the hospitality industry in Geelong and further afield.

Another long-time Geelong eatery Mexican Graffiti recently closed its doors, although the reason was not disclosed.

After 42 years at the Yarra St site, the restaurant said farewell to its customers in August.

The most recent report by CreditorWatch showed the food and beverage industry recorded the highest failure rate of all industries in October.

The organisation’s 12-month forecast is for the failure rate in the sector to rise further to 9.1 per cent.

CreditorWatch attributes the ongoing pressures on the sector to how consumers continue their vigilance around discretionary spending.

In the 2023-24 financial year at least nine hospitality businesses in the Geelong and Surf Coast region closed, although not all due to economic pressures.

Originally published as Financial pressures force Geelong’s Texas Hamburgers to close doors