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Nostalgic Biff-Burger restaurant to be sold at auction
The future of the iconic Biff-Burger and the adjoining Buffy’s BBQ in St. Pete is uncertain, as the property’s assets will be auctioned.
Biff-Burger, which opened in the 1950s in St. Petersburg and had several different owners over the years, is now up for auction. It is the only remaining Biff-Burger restaurant in the U.S.
Biff-Burger, an acronym for “best in fast food,” last switched hands earlier this year when Justin Basil, manager at Tampa-based Rockwell Investments, purchased the two parcels at 3939 49th St. N. in a $1.4 million deal.
Biff-Burger. Photo by Bill DeYoung.
At that time, Basil told the St. Pete Catalyst he was interested in the property due to its frontage on 49th Street. Basil’s wife, Lauren Basil, operates the Mosh Posh consignment store in Tampa, which closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Basil said he planned for the restaurant operations to continue.
Basil was not immediately available to comment on the decision for the property to be auctioned.
However, Bay Area Auction Services’ listing for the auction reads, “On behalf of the owner/principal prior to the demolition and property redevelopment, we have been commissioned to sell the entire asset inventory of this local landmark burger bar.”
The auction is slated for Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. The auction includes all of the cooking equipment.
This location is known for its elements of the “classic” Biff-Burger architecture, with an existing original road sign, according to the business description. Adjoined to Biff-Burger is Buffy’s Southern Pit BBQ, which is recognizable by the pink ’57 Chevy on the roof.
The business has faced financial woes in recent years. In 2020, the St. Pete restaurant temporarily closed due to a failed health inspection from the state.
Janet Brubaker Ahern
December 5, 2021at11:19 am
My family, The Brubaker’s owned the Biff Burger on 34th street south from 1957 to early to mid 70’s. I wish someone could have saved this one on 49th st. I want to try to get back some of our family photos of our Biff Burger on 34th st that we gave them back in the 80’s. They were posted on the bulletin board beside Buffy’s. One picture is of our Isetta with biff advertisement on sides. My father max drove it to work every day for all those years. Please contact me if you know how I can get them back. PLEASE
Shannon
December 2, 2021at8:37 pm
I worked there when tafer was doing scoping for a potential make over he came to biff’s they said it was to big of a place to redo. And biff got denied. Sad I was the general manager here and I loved the place. Just couldn’t get a paycheck.
Jaclyn Swenningsen Elshoff
December 1, 2021at12:47 pm
Truly a Landmark! I was here in 1950’s,I pass by it every day, had Celebrations of Life there, darn good Burgers
OLDEST IN THE ENTIRE USA….IS A BIG ONE! If that’s not history, what is?
Such is life.
J. Swenningsen
Scott Willis
November 30, 2021at7:40 pm
Not sure why no one remembers the original St. Pete Biff Burger that was located near 22nd Ave S and 34th Street (on the west side of 34th). Owned by the Brubaker family in 1960.
Richard Jones
November 30, 2021at10:39 am
https://jontaffer.com/
This guy if anyone could make the best burger work Jon Taffer after all it is the last Biff Burger anywhere it can’t get better historical value then that
Frank Sabo
November 29, 2021at8:32 pm
I’d like to buy it