Loyal customer steps in to save Da’Burger Brisbane after closure

A guardian angel investor has purchased the rights to an insolvent Brisbane burger chain that closed last month, with plans to relaunch the beloved business in two weeks’ time.

One of the monster offerings from Da’Burger New Farm. Picture: David Kelly

A guardian angel investor has purchased the rights to insolvent Brisbane burger chain DA’Burger, with plans to relaunch the beloved business in two weeks’ time.

DA’Burger’s new owner, who requested not to be named, said the decision to rescue the embattled chain and the staff left behind when its previous owners fled to Melbourne, wasn’t about him.

“My thing with this business was I was just a loyal customer for years,” the investor said.

“For five years, every Thursday night I’d take a group of five to ten guys for a boys’ night and we’d sit there and have burgers.

“Within a week of it closing I made enquiries to find out if there was any possibility of saving it.”

The investor says taking on Da’Burger is a passion project after he’s been a loyal customer for years. Picture: David Kelly

The investor acquired the DA’Burger brand name and has negotiated a new lease upon the site of the company’s original flagship restaurant in New Farm.

With a host of successful businesses already under his belt, the new owner says taking over the burger chain was a matter of the heart, not the wallet.

“This is a very different venture from my other businesses,” he said.

“This is a passion project for me, it isn’t for financial reward.

“Hopefully it can cover itself and if we can employ a few good people and give them good jobs then that’s good enough for me.”

The mission to retain as much of the brand’s DNA as possible while navigating the pitfalls experienced by the previous administration is one the new team feel ready to tackle.

With plans to avoid the rapid expansion that ultimately sunk DA’Burger’s original business, the new management will aim to start small and let growth take care of itself.

“I get that for a lot of people it’s strange and disturbing, but for six years those guys ran a really good business,” the investor said.

“I think I’ve got the business nous to continue it.

“Our intention with DA’Burger was for a similar equation: good burgers, good atmosphere and customer satisfaction, and the quickest way to retain all that is to bring back all the staff that made it that way in the first place.”

New Farm manager Beffie Carlton has rejoined the team and taken responsibility for the recruitment of more staff from across the original business in a bid to preserve their celebrated culture.

Suppliers from before the chain went under will continue to sell to the new management.

The decision to relaunch is a silver lining to a dark month for staff and suppliers still owed thousands of dollars by the previous owners.