Burger Square is ending lease in Raleigh’s Moore Square
The newly renovated Moore Square will add a new burger shop to downtown Raleigh. Square Burger opens Saturday as the latest project in Greg Hatem’s Empire Eats restaurant group.
jleonard@newsobserver.com
Get ready to say goodbye to burgers, fries and milkshakes in Moore Square.
Empire Eats, owner of Square Burger, is not renewing its lease with the city to operate the cafe at Moore Square.
The restaurant group has been the sole operator of the cafe since the downtown park on Blount Street opened after a two-year renovation in 2019. The restaurant’s lease will officially end Jan. 14, 2024.
A memo to the Raleigh City Council gave no reason for the decision but said “a lot of work is planned in and around Moore Square to create a safe and welcoming area of the downtown.”
A phone call and email to Empire Eats from The News & Observer were not returned Monday.
The city will begin searching for a new operator later this fall with hopes of a new restaurant opening in early spring.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
