Beverly Hot Dog, Italian Beef Sandwich, Burger Casual Dining Spot Closing

BEVERLY, MA — A cozy, casual Chicago-style hot dog, smashburger and seafood eatery in Beverly will close this weekend after about one year in operation.

The owners of The Salty Seagull in Beverly said their final day open will be on Dec. 14.

"We wrestled with this decision for awhile now," owners said in a post on social media. "It wasn't easy or quick. But it was the right one."

Owners said rising costs and the limits of running a full menu out of a 224-square-foot kitchen "eventually caught up to us."

"We pushed this tiny space as far as it could go," owners said. "We're proud of that. We don't take this lightly. And it hurts to walk away. But it's the honest call."

Owners also cited burnout and family obligations for the decision to shutter.

"Here's the honest truth ... we failed ... and we succeeded," they said. "We built something real. Something people loved. We had heart, damn good food, and a community that showed up. When the smoke clears, we'll walk away with great memories, lifetime friends, a few burns, cuts, bruises and some expensive life lessons — and we wouldn't change a thing."

Owners said they received inspiration from the late Anthony Bourdain: "Better to fail spectacularly —than succeed in a mediocre way."

"Mission accomplished," they said. "We took the big swing. ... This isn't the end of the story. Just an intermission."