Karry’s Closing Leaves Hole in Center

The closing of Krazy Karry's Backyard Grill, a family-friendly Arlington restaurant that served its last burger on April 1, leaves a hole in the fabric of the community, neighbors and patrons say.

Since it opened in 2003, Krazy Karry's was a go-to eatery for families seeking a casual meal and for burger aficionados who called the restaurant's angus-beef burger one of the best in the Boston area. It was also known to employ local teens who could be found ferrying trays of paper-wrapped sandwiches and steaming onion rings to the old-style booths that lined the restaurant.

But for Krazy Karry's owner, Donald Buehler, a proposed 40 percent rent increase was untenable. Following two years of negotiations with his landlord and a slowdown in business since 2009, Buehler made the difficult choice to close his doors.

Buehler said he and his wife, Karry, the inspiration for the restaurant's name, were proud of the way that they had given back to the community over the last several years. He noted that he and his wife had been big supporters of Arlington Public Schools and the Thompson School in particular.

"We had built a solid and loyal clientele," he said. "We were very involved locally. People knew us."

Neighboring retailers said they were concerned that the restaurant's demise might hurt their business.

"This closing hurts all of us. It's very disheartening for businesses and for residents of this community," said Roxie Mogilles of Divinity's Splendour-Glow, a family-owned gift shop located two doors away from Krazy Karry's.

Shopkeepers like Mogilles, who relocated to Arlington from New Orleans, chose Arlington for its small town feel and varied selection of independently owned shops and restaurants. Closings like this, they say, are changing the face of the town.

"I'm very concerned about other storefronts that have stayed empty for over a year, like Janiak's and La Ladybug," said Mogilles. "This is changing the tenure of the neighborhood. You hate to lose that community feeling."

Closures can also impact businesses' bottom lines, according to Mogilles, who appreciates the vital role of her fellow retailers.

"When others businesses are doing well, it's better for all of us because of the foot traffic. The businesses nearby support one another and send customers to one another's shops. We all help each other."

Her boutique has already felt an impact. "Moms would often eat at Krazy Karry's and then come into our shop. We'd call it the stroller parade. I'm not seeing those customers now."

Longtime Arlington residents who found Krazy Karry's to be uniquely welcoming to teens and young children hope that any new establishment will be equally family-friendly.

"Krazy Karry's was the best place for teens and tweens to hang out," said 25-year Arlington resident Eric Segal. "A place like that is important for any town: Kids need a safe place to hang out -- away from their parents but not too far away.

"I don't think there is anywhere around here that can substitute."