Only one condition–It has to stay Mr. Bartley’s!
The iconic burger joint Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage is now for sale in Harvard Square, according to owner Bill Bartley. The restaurant has been in Bartley’s family since 1960 when his parents, Joan and Joe Bartley, first opened the grill, now it would seem it’s time to let it go.
The pandemic didn’t force the famed restaurant to close down, but owner Bill Bartley has decided to retire and pass on his legacy to a new lucky owner. “I’m 60. I don’t want to be here when I’m 70,” he said to the Boston Globe.
Mr. Bartley’s first began when Mr. and Mrs. Bartley opened the burger restaurant that sold paper goods back in the 60s. Through the decades, its menu continued to grow featuring dozens of mouth-watering burger options which have lured in countless celebrities, including Al Pacino and Jacqueline Onasis.
A listing from the Boston Restaurant Group advertises the business for $475,000, but Bartley won’t sell it to the average joe. He is looking for a buyer who will carry on the name and concept of Mr. Bartley’s including its bold burger names like Trump Tower, The DNC, MBTA and Baby Yoda.
“We’re looking for someone to come in and renovate, bring in beer and wine, and put in a bathroom,” he said. “It might be an opportunity, but it has to be the right person; there won’t be any conversation with anyone who doesn’t want it to be Bartley’s.”
Luckily for us, Bartley stated that he’s intending to open again for business in September whether there’s a buyer or not. So what do you say? Are you up for the challenge of carrying on Mr. Bartley’s legacy?
[Featured image: @mrbartleys, Instagram]