SAUGUS — When Fuddruckers closes its doors later this month, it will bring about the end of an era, not just for the burger chain but also for the car shows it hosted every week.
In November, the restaurant announced it would shut its doors after more than 35 years in business, attributing the closure to a failure to reach an agreement with its landlord on a lease. Now, just days remain before it closes for good — with the final day of service slated for Dec. 23. For Guy Moley, the restaurant closing means he will have to find a new venue or venues for the slate of car shows he helps organize each year.
Moley said the weekly cruise nights that have taken over the Fuddruckers parking lot for more than a year now will likely not resume at a new venue.
“Right now, we’ve put that to rest,” he said, adding that organizers put the weekly event together to help the restaurant and that the weekly shows “brought a lot of people together.”
A new addition to the slate of events came from the weekly cruise nights: Motorcycle Mondays, which Moley dubbed a “new adventure.” Because of the looming closure of the restaurant, Moley and Co. were forced to host the final Motorcycle Monday of the year at Boston Harley Davidson in Revere.
The Monday shows may move to that venue, though Moley said nothing is set in stone.
Perhaps more significantly, though, the twice-annual Mom’s Cancer Fighting Angels show hosted at Fuddruckers, where the restaurant donated a portion of its proceeds to the American Cancer Society to help fund cancer research, is without a home for 2024.
Moley lamented the loss of the restaurant as a supporter of the Saugus community.
“Fuddrucker’s has been outstanding,” he said. “Everybody had fundraisers there … [it’s] going to be a loss to the community.”
“It’s heartbreaking for sure,” Moley added.
But, Moley said his fundraising efforts would continue, particularly with the 10th anniversary of the summertime car show coming up. As he searches for a new home, Moley said he wanted to keep the shows in Saugus.
“I want to see these events stay in Saugus because they’ve become community events,” he said. “[They’re] something the community looks forward to each year.”
Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta echoed Moley’s remarks.
“I want to thank them for the many years they have partnered with our community through fundraising efforts,” Panetta said. “Fuddruckers worked with all organizations, especially the schools and non-profits, looking to fundraise. I will miss them when they close. Thank you for all your years in Saugus.”
