Iconic Magic Burger restaurant closes in Attalla | News

ATTALLA, AL (WBRC)- The "Magic" is gone now in Attalla.

Owners of the storied Magic Burger restaurant, a popular eating establishment in the city since 1950, have confirmed they've closed the restaurant.

Owner Joshua May is the grandson and great-grandson of the people who opened the restaurant on Cleveland Avenue 62 years ago. He blames a number of factors—one of them, the strains of being devoted to the restaurant business, versus his commute from out of state.

"It's just very hard for my father and I to drive roughly three hours from Tennessee down here and live in the business at the same time," May said.

May added the current economy also hurt the business, as did changing traffic trends.

The restaurant opened in 1950, at a time Gulf States Steel, one of the county's largest industries, was still operating just a few blocks away. But the plant closed in 2000 and has been dismantled. May also points to the former locations of a Wendy's and a Hardees in the same area. He says a lot of business migrated one exit southeast on I-59 when the Walmart Supercenter opened in that area.

A miscommunication led some loyal customers to believe the Magic Burger's last day of operation would be Tuesday, July 31, only to find the workers changing the marquee to say the restaurant was closed until further notice.

Magic Burger had seen multiple generations of customers, its parking lot being occupied by cars with tail fins, muscle cars, mini-vans and SUVS and hybrid vehicles as times changed. At the time of their closing, they offered the "Magic Burger," a "Mega Magic Meal," a kids meal, steak sandwiches and chicken tenders. They also offered 22 flavors of shakes including black cherry, lemon, lime, Pina Colada and butterscotch.

Sandra Varnon was among the disappointed customers who showed up hoping for one last meal.

"It was the best hamburger I ever had. I hate that they're closing down," she says.

May says his family hopes to be able to sell the restaurant to someone who will keep the Magic Burger name alive and be devoted to the restaurant business 24/7.

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