Chuck's Burger Bar on Locke Street South is closed for the second time in a couple of months.

The restaurant closed Wednesday afternoon and doors remained locked Thursday. There was no sign on the premises and few clues as to what is going on. The normally active social media feeds for the eatery have remained silent. Efforts to reach Chuck's owners, Chris Preston and Erin Millward, and building owner Kevin Turbitt were unsuccessful Thursday.

Residential and retail neighbours said they don't know what has happened.

Drawing crowds and rave reviews have not been a problem, but the tenants and building owner were embroiled in a dispute over the restaurant's ventilation system.

Upstairs tenants complained about heavy smoke and grease coming out of the back of the restaurant. One neighbour said there has been no improvement since the restaurant reopened after being shut down by a bailiff's order for about a week in December.

Turbitt indicated then he was hopeful a positive resolution had been reached, but declined to discuss the issues.

In December, Chuck's discussed the closure on social media and in comments to The Spectator. Millward expressed concern for the restaurant's 25 employees, as did Turbitt. "It bothers me that this has to be so confrontational, but we couldn't find a resolution … I hate doing it," Turbitt told The Spectator. He said he had never taken such action in 30 years of being a landlord. "I feel for the young people that work there. But you can't succeed if you ignore problems."

Chuck's still faces charges regarding noncompliance with inspection orders, said chief fire prevention officer Bob Simpson.

This week, it was revealed that crowd-funded taco and tequila eatery The Mule will move into the remaining space at the Empire Times on King William Street. That was to be the second location of Chuck's.