Mister Sizzle’s to close current, future locations by end of month

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Mister Sizzle’s, a popular restaurant in Buffalo known for its variety of hamburgers and milkshakes, announced on Sunday afternoon its decision to close indefinitely.

The closure also affects the business’s “under construction” locations, Mister Sizzle’s said in a social media post.

“We have made the difficult decision to not renew our lease and close Mister Sizzle’s indefinitely,” the business said. “Please stop by to say farewell to our amazing staff that rolled with us through all of amazing years.”

Mister Sizzle’s, which first opened in 2021 at 346 Connecticut St., was named Buffalo Spree’s “Best New Restaurant” in 2022 and received national attention when it won an episode of A&E’s “Best in Chow” series in September 2023.

Its closure follows a lawsuit filed by part owner John Pantalena, of the Connecticut Street Hospitality Group LLC (CSHG), in November of last year against the other part owners of Mister Sizzle’s, Chris and Casey Casas.

In the lawsuit, Pantalena accused the Casases of “breaches of fiduciary duties, breaches of contract, misappropriation and diversion of Company funds and assets” and listed “neglect, mismanagement, corporate waste, self-dealing, conflicts of interest, and improper conduct” as causes of the business’s “permanent and irreparable damage.”

Some of the accusations include the “withdrawing [of] funds from the Company in excess of the amounts,” including loans and “significant additional amounts for health insurance without CSHG’s written approval.”

The lawsuit alleges that from Sep. 30, 2021, to Aug. 16, 2024, the Casases made unauthorized withdrawals and transfers totaling more than $500,000 from the company to themselves and their company, Casas Hospitality.

An attorney for the Casas family stated in a subsequent filing that the “Defendants vehemently dispute the allegations in the amended complaint.”

Neither of the Clarence nor Hamburg locations had officially opened prior to the closure announcement.

The restaurant said Feb. 27 is the customers’ “last chance to get sizzled.”

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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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