MidCity SmashedBurger is permanently closed in Bend. Owner Mike Aldridge posted on Facebook that the food truck is moving to Troutdale. The burger joint had been located at Waypoint Hotel and there had been talk about it moving to the new food cart lot, Base Camp, opening at Powder House sometime this summer. In an Instagram post, Aldridge said he pulled out of that because of lease restrictions, general cost to operate at that location and competition from another cart that would also be selling hamburgers. He said it wasn’t feasible to set up at a new location and try to attract new regulars.
MidCity opened in Bend in 2022 and Aldridge said he still encountered people who said they didn’t know about his food truck. On Instagram he wrote, “This town really doesn’t support small business like it claims. I wanna thank all the supporters for all the love the last few days and years.”
This article appears in the Source June 11, 2026.
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Best burger in town, hands down. Worst location in town, hands down. Best employees did everything to create a great visit. Ate there once a week for a few years and they were often out of ingredients and items on offer and open only a few hours a day. A concept in which the owner should be in the office ordering and marketing and not on the front line with the customers.
There are a ton of burger joints in our town. Competition in the food industry is high, but especially here in small city know for pubs and food carts with burgers everywhere. If you think blaming Bend for your lack of success and think Troutdale will be the cure… well, I’ll just say best of luck to you.