Five Guys went out of business near to my home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and the reasons accounting for the closure of this mediocre chain are clear, at least to me. The Burgers were devoid of flavor, small in size, and ridiculously over-priced!
During the last occasion that I went to a Five Guys, about a year ago, at a time when alternatives were grim and I was especially hungry, Five Guys served me a flavorless burger and a large portion of their highly over-rated oily French fries. My bill came to $13.50, without a drink. I felt as though I had been ripped off, which, of course I had, all in a cold and starkly fluorescent atmosphere. Customer Service proved unable to make up for the serious deficiencies of this mediocre burger chain.
Upon opening several years ago, Five Guys Management decided to paint the attractive yellowish tan colored bricks characteristic of many Bay Ridge, Brooklyn buildings with white paint. This, together with a cheesy red and white colored signage cheapened the look of the 5th Avenue block on which it was situated and the act proved an ill omen of the stores's future in the neighborhood.
Farewell Five Guys and please close the door behind you. Had the chain served quality burgers and fries at reasonable prices in a attractive environment, one where people would enjoy entering and remaining, the burger chain may have fared a chance to remain competitive. Much to their credit, Americans were no longer willing to tolerate poor value and the dreary ambiance offered by this decidedly soulless chain.