Beach-styled fast-food joint, Kook Burger, shuts down its Center City and Jersey Shore branches due to a pending wage theft allegation against its management.
After approximately two years in operation, a small Jersey Shore-style burger chain, once known for its $30 milkshakes and beach-like ambiance in Center City, has shut down its Philadelphia location. The exact reason for the closure isn't clear.
By mid-June, a hand-written "Closed" sign was seen behind a metal gate, and city records suggest that health inspectors closed the restaurant as early as February 2025. However, inspection reports pertaining to this establishment have mysteriously disappeared from the city's online database.
The franchise, based in Brigantine Beach, also closed its Jersey Shore and New York City restaurants recently. The owners, Absecon Capital, are facing bankruptcy accusations and admission of failing to pay employees tens of thousands of dollars in back wages. A former employee of the company has accused the owners of wage theft in court filings.
The city of Philadelphia recently adopted the POWER Act, a law intended to penalize employers for wage theft and similar abuses. Employers found guilty under this act may face penalties, license suspension, and investigation by the city's Department of Labor. However, it remains unclear if Kook Burger and Bar faced any legal action under this law.
The Brigantine Beach Black Turtle Coffee shop closed several months prior, with an eviction notice posted on the door. A former employee filed a wage theft complaint with state regulators. The employee claimed they were forced to work long hours without pay and were not provided promised housing or visa sponsorship.
The New Jersey Wage Theft Act allows employees to recover unpaid wages and damages worth up to 200% of their owed wages. But, it's not specified how much the business owes the former employee in question.
Both the company and its owners declined to comment on any ongoing legal matters. Sources hinted at issues with the venting infrastructure at the New York City location as a potential contributing factor to the overall financial troubles faced by the business.
Rumors are circulating about new coffee shops and burger joints opening up in the former locations of Kook Burger and Black Turtle Coffee in time for the summer season.
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[1] Wage Theft Kook Burger by our website News Digital on Scribd[4] Unnamed sources from various social media platforms discussing the closure of Kook Burger and Bar, but lacking concrete evidence or confirmation.
Despite the financial struggles faced by Absecon Capital, the owners of Kook Burger and Bar, the chain's issues extend beyond the venting infrastructure in their New York City location. The franchise, known for its $30 milkshakes and beach-like ambiance, is also embroiled in accusations of wage theft and failure to pay employees tens of thousands of dollars in back wages, which could potentially fall under the Philadelphia POWER Act and the New Jersey Wage Theft Act.
