Burger rivalry has ended in Tacoma’s Lincoln District. What’s next for 1968 restaurant?

There will be no official winner of the decades-long, all-in-good-fun Lincoln District burger rivalry, as one of the two retro shops on South 38th Street and Thompson Avenue in Tacoma has closed. It will remain a restaurant but under a new name and new concept.

As it goes, age and the glow of retirement beckoned the owners of Burger Ranch, which officially closed the doors after service on Aug. 15.

Unlike Jubilee across the street, which has endured a couple of ownership changes, including a failed fro-yo concept in the mid-2010s, Burger Ranch has stayed in the family for the entirety of its almost-60 years.

A local first shared the news in a Reddit post last Thursday. Terry Howells, who, with his wife Deborah, bought the business from his parents in 2007, confirmed it Monday morning.

For the record, when asked about the unofficial burger war, he laughed and said there were “definitely no hostilities.”

“Business has been really good,” said Howells, 76, in a phone call. “We had many, many customers pretty upset that we were closing up. We would just mostly like to say thank you to Tacoma for the opportunity to serve, and to enjoy and meet the many people we were able to meet.”

It was simply time — “I am well past retirement age,” he joked.

Not much has changed at Burger Ranch since Kenneth and Marcelene Howells introduced their slice of Americana in 1968, first under the banner of Arctic Circle Drive-In, a burger and ice cream franchise headquartered in Salt Lake City.

The cost of doing business very much has, noted their son, from labor and ingredients to property taxes and licenses. He estimated that in those early days, a burger would set you back maybe 29 cents. “Now they’re up over $2,” he said, a figure he noted was still “very consumer-friendly.”

Well, $3.79 to be exact, for a classic cheeseburger, and $4.49 for a double. The menu also offered the requisite shakes starting around $4 as well as other fried favorites like chicken strips, a fish sandwich and onion rings.

At one point, recalled Howells, his parents owned two other Washington state Arctic Circles, converting them to the Burger Ranch name before selling.

The Lincoln District restaurant was also their second Pierce County venture. The family moved to the region from Idaho in the early 1960s and owned the stand that is now Don’s Drive-In in Puyallup, which has been closed since last year when a car crash damaged the building and injured a cook.

Terry and Deborah weren’t in the restaurant these days as much as they once were, but they managed paperwork and some supply runs. He stressed the dedication of their staff, including two managers who had stayed with the family for nearly 40 years.

“The last crew of employees were phenomenal, some of the best we ever had,” he said.

They sold the property to Katie and Jesus Ibarra Baez of Northeast Tacoma, according to tax filings finalized Aug. 15. They intend to lease the unit to a local restaurant but “nothing is final” just yet, Katie Ibarra said by email on Tuesday.

Terms of the sale leave the Burger Ranch brand with the founding family — the couple’s adult children might pursue a food truck or two down the road, said Howells.

As for their golden years without the day-to-day restaurant management, he said, “It’s going to be a true change of pace and lifestyle, but I think we’ll adapt quite well.”

Reporter’s Note, 8/20/2024, 12 p.m.: This story has been updated to reflect the new property owners’ plans for the building.

This story was originally published August 20, 2024 at 5:15 AM.