Christchurch burger joint with a cult-like following closes its doors

Friday, 23 August 2024

A Christchurch burger shop that transformed into a weekend “nightclub” after dark, served beef burgers with doughnut buns and created a cult-like following of loyal customers, has closed its doors.

Chances are if you were a tertiary student in Canterbury over the last four decades, you have encountered Big Gary’s or know its status.

But contrary to popular belief, the owner’s name isn’t Gary. It’s David.

“Boss Gary” announced his retirement on his website, saying his Riccarton Rd store had closed after 40 years of “flipping patties and serving smiles to generations of hungry students and young people”.

Store owner David, who only gave his first name, said Big Gary’s had been around for decades but he took ownership only about two years ago.

“I miss them, all the loyal customers, some of them come here basically every week,” he said.

“I wish I could serve them for longer but because the business is very bad, I have to close to survive.”

The store was known for being open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays and having a special connection with the local student community.

Forester King said “Big Gary was the knight in shining grease armour to all students”.

“Whether you needed some comfort food after cramming [study] until 1am, out partying even later, or needed someone to sponsor your local aerospace club’s rocket, he was there,” King said.

The Big Gary’s Facebook page has over 4000 followers and would post birthday wishes to regular customers and good luck messages before exams.

The store was so special to Tom McKenzie, who lived nearby in 2020-21, that he got a graduation photo outside it while wearing his regalia.

He said the store was “littered with students all hours of the weekend” and sold merchandise like T-shirts and hoodies that would now be considered “vintage”.

“I have many great memories, albeit with an alcohol-induced fogginess, of Big Gary’s.

“[The] best ones are probably clapping every time someone’s order was ready, and the collective cheer when someone got ‘order 69’.”

The store “essentially became a nightclub after 11pm”, McKenzie said.

But it was not just nearby students who were fond of the eatery.

Liesa Chase ordered Big Gary’s 77 times to her Halswell home through Uber Eats in 2021. She became hooked during the Covid-19 lockdown when stores could offer contactless delivery, and remained a faithful fan until its closure.

“They got to know my name and would write wee notes on orders … and they sent me a free top,” she said.

“I’m sad it closed down because I got quite a few people hooked on their food and they were always open so late and [were] trustworthy.”

An online note signed by “boss Gary” said “these past 40 years have been the best part of my life”.

“But the time has come for me to retire and to think about what comes next. I'm not out for good, just stepping back to find a new journey to embark on,” the note said.

David said he never met a previous owner named Gary, and conceded the store had “changed owners quite a lot”. He would not reveal what his or Big Gary’s next steps were.

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