Ribs and Burgers permanently closes Bulimba restaurant

A formerly popular glitter strip in Brisbane’s southeast has taken another blow after a burger giant closed one of its three locations across the city.

Ribs and Burgers at Oxford St, Bulimba. Picture: Brendan McBain

A formerly popular glitter strip in Brisbane’s southeast has taken another blow after a burger giant closed one of its three locations across the city.

Ribs and Burgers at 171 Oxford St, Bulimba shut its doors last week and is listed as ‘permanently closed’ on Google as it becomes the latest of many restaurants in the area to close.

The closure leaves Ribs and Burgers, which has locations all across Australia as well as in the UK and South Africa, with just its Woolloongabba and flagship Fortitude Valley venues remaining.

Katie Boulter, who owns paint and sip lounge Rose Soireé on Oxford St and has been part of the precinct since 2021, said it was sad to see another venue close but believed the number of burger restaurants in the area could have contributed.

“We’re starting to see more and more venues close lately and it’s really disappointing because Oxford St used to be such an affluent and vibrant area,” she said.

“I do believe the flow-on effects from Covid are still contributing to these types of closures because right after the lockdowns everyone just wanted to get out and about and now people are kind of being more wise about how they spend money.

“There’s also a lot of similar type of businesses in the area and you see them open and close, like burger restaurants, cafes, ice cream places and that doesn’t help.

“I think the ones that survive are the businesses that have a point of difference.”

Ms Boulter said she believed Oxford St could rise back to what it once was if people were smart about the businesses they decided to open in the area.

“I also believe business owners need to be a part of the community, that really helps.” she said.

The news of Ribs and Burgers at Bulimba closing shocked locals who took to social media to voice their disappointment.

“Our go-to take out every week and they did such a good job all through Covid,” one person wrote.

“Lots of competition in burgers. You have Betty’s, Broken Hearts and others,” another person commented.

Ribs and Burgers were contacted for comment.