Local Burger Shop Gives Thanksgiving Meals, Moves to New Location

Bunky’s Burgers handed out free Thanksgiving meals at 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 26, at 192 Warrior Mine Road in War, providing hot food to neighbors as the small business moved from leased space on War’s Main Street to a recently purchased former convenience store on Warrior Mine Road. The restaurant secured permission from the McDowell County Health Department to distribute meals via a food truck while the new site is prepared.

Owner Tina Collins said the community had supported the business throughout the transition. “We just wanted make sure that we could make it a go and the community has welcomed us so much. And we just want to stay here and be in my hometown,” Collins said. Collins added that the restaurant, named for her father in law who was nicknamed Bunky, has regularly offered free meals at its previous location in memory of her parents and planned to continue that practice in the new building. “Because we know right now times are hard and we just want to give a little back for everything the community has done for us since we started Bunky’s last year,” Collins said.

The Thanksgiving giveaway served multiple local needs. In the short term it provided food for residents on a holiday when many social services are closed. For the business it maintained customer ties and goodwill during a period of capital investment. Purchasing the former convenience store represents a shift from leasing to ownership, a move that can stabilize operating costs over time and keep jobs and services anchored in the county.

For a community where local businesses play an outsized role in economic and social life, Bunky’s transition is a signal of resilience. The restaurant expected to reopen soon at the Warrior Mine Road address, and the temporary use of a food truck allowed the business to continue serving customers while work proceeds. The Thanksgiving event underscored the reciprocal relationship between a small business and its neighborhood, and offered a practical form of support at a time when residents and entrepreneurs face persistent economic pressures.