HONOLULU (KHON2) — Chubbies Burgers, a beloved burger spot in Kaimuki known for its smash burgers and fries, has officially closed its doors as of Feb. 1 after lease negotiations with the landlord fell through.
Owner Jeffrey Nedry, who moved Chubbies from a Ward Village food truck into the Kaimuki location in 2022, said the team had hoped to renew their short-term lease but were unable to reach an agreement.
“We’ve loved it here, it’s an awesome neighborhood,” Nedry said. “The support has been amazing throughout all the changes, and there’s more on the horizon.”
In a recent social media post, Chubbies announced a bold rebrand as “BoardedUpBurgers by Chubbies Burgers,” signaling that the brand isn’t going away.
“They boarded us up. Said we were done. But you can’t kill flavor this loud,” the post read. “This isn’t a comeback — it’s a rebellion.”
Nedry confirmed plans to return in 2025 with a pop-up location and teased a future permanent spot that’s already in the works.
“We definitely plan to continue to operate,” he said. “We’re working on something new and hope to share details later this year.”