Thursday, March 12, 2020

[UPDATE] Wendy's "Refresh" in Progress at Toco Hills

The dated Wendy's at Toco Hills is getting upgraded, but not to the degree that we previously reported it would.  The restaurant, located in an outparcel of Toco Hills Promenade at 2957 North Druid Hills Road, opened in 1979, and it shows.  In 2017, we reported that Meritage Hospitality Group, Inc. (OTCQX: MHGU), which has owned the Toco location since 2011, would in 2018 complete a "scrape & rebuild" of the location that would give the neighborhood a brand new restaurant.   2018 and 2019 came and went, and there was not so much as a permit filed.  

We have spent months, yes, literally months, attempting to gets updates from Meritage on the status of the project.  Earlier this week, (with renovations having started last week) we were finally informed that the company ultimately made the decision to "refresh" the restaurant rather than tear it down and start from scratch.  While a new restaurant would have been the preferred outcome, a capital investment of at least $250,000 according to permits filed with DeKalb county, is still a good sign of the company's faith in the Toco Hills community and the North Druid Hills corridor.  

According to a Meritage spokesperson, "The store will receive new finishes to the interior and exterior.  The appearance will be updated and refreshed through new signage, furniture, equipment and decor."  All changes are efforts to "improve the customer experience" at the roughly 3,000 square foot restaurant.   

The dining room will be closed to the public for the duration of the project, but the drive-thru window will remain open for approximately three weeks.  The entire restaurant will be closed for another three weeks with construction slated to completed in mid-April.  

When completed, the restaurant will closely resemble the previously "refreshed" Meritage-owned Wendy's at 1940 Piedmont Road in Piedmont Heights.  

It's unclear why the project was pushed for so long or why it was ultimately downgraded, but the timing of the "refresh" is a bit odd when you consider that Wendy's just launched breakfast system-wide March 2.  Dublin, Ohio-based Wendy's is spending millions to support and promote the new breakfast menu with such options as the Frosty-ccino, the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit and the Breakfast Baconator, and to be closed or otherwise not at optimal efficiency during this time is strange.   

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meritage Hospitality currently operates a total of 332 Wendy's restaurants, and its subsidiary, Wen Georgia, LLC, operates 46 Wendy’s in Georgia.  

Have you tried any of the new breakfast items at Wendy's?  Are you pleased to see things finally happening at the Toco Hills Wendy's?  What is your favorite fast food burger?

Please share your thoughts below.  

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

There's something groovy about the "sunken patio" at this location and being able to watch all the traffic on NDH, so I'm sort of glad they aren't doing a full rebuild. I wish they would just bring back the newspaper tables and stick to the era of the building, but I'm sure it will get covered in modern details and feel really out of place. Even still it is a welcome change.

Brad Sappenfield said...

I bet this location had the original yellow panels on the outside and the hanging colored beads on the inside when it first opened.

Anon said...

I remember driving past there shortly after your first email about the rebuild and they had a "now hiring" sign up out front. my boyfriend said "why are they hiring if they are tearing the place down?" so now we know why.

Unknown said...

I'm sad they are removing the smoking section. Unbelievably Wendy's allowed smoking until 2001 in many locations. While that was obviously 19 years ago - still a relic of a past era.

Cody Cargle said...

Honestly it’s great Wendy’s is updating all there old dipolidated locations, and making them brand new again, they just redone the one on Thomas Drive in Panama City Beach Florida a couple of years ago, since I no longer live in Metro Atlanta, which Paulding County closed down the original location and sold it to Hardee’s, they kept the one in Hiram, Georgia by Sams Club open along with the other Dallas, Georgia location that technically replaced the one that used to be on Merchants Drive by Ingles, and now since I’ve been gone they opened a brand new location in Dallas Georgia by the Kroger on Us 278, Walgreens, Waffle House, Chick-fil-A, and some coffee shop called Ellianos never heard of that is also brand new and opened. 🤔

Anonymous said...

What percent goes into a Wendy's to eat breakfast anyway?

Anonymous said...

Honestly it’s great Wendy’s is updating all there old dipolidated locations, and making them brand new again, they just redone the one on Thomas Drive in Panama City Beach Florida a couple of years ago, since I no longer live in Metro Atlanta, which Paulding County closed down the original location and sold it to Hardee’s, they kept the one in Hiram, Georgia by Sams Club open along with the other Dallas, Georgia location that technically replaced the one that used to be on Merchants Drive by Ingles, and now since I’ve been gone they opened a brand new location in Dallas Georgia by the Kroger on Us 278, Walgreens, Waffle House, Chick-fil-A, and some coffee shop called Ellianos never heard of that is also brand new and opened. 🤔

Codester

Anonymous said...

The one in Chamblee needs a complete investment. Meritage has replaced carpeting squares and chair upholstery seversl times throughout the years but it needs a complete remake, and new management. I don’t know why they keep putting lipstick on a pig. It’s a very busy location, Chamblee is undergoing a boom in population, and people have disposable income in the area and the drive-bys. PIB in Chamblee is one of the most busy avenues in DeKalb County. We need a modern Wendy’s here. The only reason I go is there burgers actually are better than other “fast” food burgers McDonald’s, BK, five guys, waffle house, etc.

Cody Cargle said...

Anonymous on March 14, 2020 at 7:41 PM Do you have anything better else to do with your life smartass? 😂 I mean you must be bored not be able to go out much due to the corona virus outbreak! 🤦🏻‍♂️😅 I would hate to see you quarantined in your house for two months. 😂

Anonymous said...

Cody, you are a serial poster on this site, so it is hypocritical of you to comment: "Do you have anything better else to do with your life smartass?" Stay on topic, and please stop with you ad nauseam personal experiences, as NO ONE is taking the time to read your tripe! 😂

Cody Cargle said...

Anonymous on March 17, 2020 at 9:58 Am Umm you don’t have a damn clue how to stay on topic, okay nobody gives a damn about your comment motherfucker. 😑

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