Phat Burgers to take hiatus as owners search for new building

The owners of a Toowoomba food institution are going out with a bang, planning a massive party to see out their old building. But all is not lost with plans afoot to reopen in a new space next year.

For the second time in six years bulldozers will chase Al Wynn and the Phat Burgers crew out of their building.

The eatery’s current site on Ruthven Street is slated for demolition in December to make way for a new NAB branch.

But Mr Wynn is closing the store earlier, on November 13, and will mark the occasion in typical Phat Burgers style – with a street party.

He is calling it The Wreckoning 2.0.

“It is going to be amazing,” he said.

“We have a big line up of bands that have played here over the past 15 years.”

They include Pepper Jane, Beef Cheeks and Salty Beans, Project 62, Damian, Pound Dog Swagger, V Miiller and Cowboy Craig.

The night will end with a performance from Toowoomba’s Elvis, Tristan James.

“When Elvis leaves the building that will be the end for me,” Mr Wynn said.

Al Wynn from Phat Burgers is confident they will find a new home for the business. Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The decision to knock the building down was made months ago and since then Mr Wynn has looked for a new site. While he is confident he could get a fresh lease, he wanted to buy a building to ensure he would not be kicked out again.

“We have no choice, we have to reopen,” he said.

“We are cashed up and ready to roll.”

The site of the old Bar Wunder business was flagged as a possible replacement but it was in bad need of repairs and that was something My Wynn won’t commit to unless he owned the freehold.

A site in the heart of the CBD was also preferred.

“We are an iconic business and the city would miss us and all the crazy s--- we do,” Mr Wynn said.

The news came just two days after Phat Burgers hosted its annual Halloween party that included up to 400 vintage cars doing laps of Ruthven Street.

PROPOSED: Architectural designs and layouts for the proposed new National Australia Bank branch on Ruthven Street, the site of the current Phat Burgers eatery.

Phat Burgers moved into its current site five years ago after its former site on the opposite of Ruthven Street was demolished to make way for The Rock redevelopment.

Mr Wyan said he would continue to run his catering business Etiquette Catering from a commercial kitchen and would look at doing pop-up stores and music festivals while he shopped for a new building.

“There are some advantages to getting bulldozed,” Mr Wynn said.

“I don’t have to clean anything before I leave.”