Idaho restaurant chain closes its second Boise location in a year. Here’s why

Boise isn’t treating Good Burger so good lately.

The local chain, which started in Idaho’s capital city, grew quickly after launching in 2018 — even opening a few locations in Utah.

But during the past 12 months, Good Burger has closed two restaurants in Boise: its flagship store downtown at 1003 W. Main St. in late 2020 (now Sid’s Garage); and on Oct. 15, its operation at 7610 W. State St.

Good Burger — stylized on signs as Goodburger — shuttered on State near Gary Lane because of an all-too-common reason in the industry, according to its CEO. “Staffing,” Nicholas Jones said in an email. “We have the locations in the remaining other Idaho locations and have no plans to close those locations. We pay employees quite well, it’s just limited staffing.

“The majority of our team members are the same team members we (had) when we opened our first few stores here in Idaho. They are great team players and we love them. It’s just too much to ask of them to split them up as we had been forced to do.”

Good Burger on State also had plenty of competition nearby. It was a pickle’s throw away from two national chains in the same building: Chipotle Mexican Grill and Jersey Mike’s Subs. Before Good Burger opened, Smashburger had operated in that spot for three years. The commercial spaces are part of the mixed-use North Pointe development.

Specializing in hamburgers and serving battered fries, Good Burger’s menu falls into an upper fast-food to typical fast-casual price range. Along with Kobe beef and gluten-free bun upgrades, Good Burger also sells chicken sandwiches, salads and shakes.

In the Boise area, you still can visit Good Burger at the Boise Towne Square mall food court, at Chow Public Market at the Boise Spectrum and at 3143 E. Magic View Drive in Meridian. Two locations are open in Utah.

Online: itsagoodburger.com.

This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 4:58 PM.