Friday, January 31, 2025

[WOW] Wendy's Quietly Closes Metro Location After Nearly 40 Years in Business

Wendy's has quietly closed one of its longstanding Atlanta area restaurants.  The Wendy's in question, located at 5621 Peachtree Boulevard in Chamblee, apparently closed as of January 26, according to signage on the door.  No reason for the closure was provided but the sign stated that it was permanent. 

DeKalb County property records indicate the roughly 2,900 square foot restaurant opened in 1986 and sat on about 1.4 acres.  The restaurant had not seemingly received any cosmetic attention or updates of any significance recently, or perhaps ever.  It was clearly a 1980s restaurant.  

Meritage Hospitality Group, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based franchisee who owned the Chamblee Wendy's, has completed the burger chain's "Image Activation" remodel at several of its other Atlanta area restaurants including one at Toco Hills.  The company also previously relocated and debuted a brand new modern look Wendy's on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth.  

Georgia and its 51 Wendy's is third most by unit count for Meritage with Florida in the lead with 60, followed close behind by Michigan with 58.  Overall, the franchisee operates about 375 Wendy's throughout 15 states, according to its website.   

A separate franchisee of the Dublin, Ohio-based burger chain closed three other Atlanta area locations this past December.   Clemson-based Calhoun Management Corporation, which continues to operate about 80 Wendy's restaurants throughout Georgia and North Carolina, closed the three units - Acworth, Kennesaw and Conley - but is responsible for building three new locations in the years to come.  

The closures are part of the parent company's previously announced plan to close 140 "lower-volume restaurants" in "weaker markets."  Wendy's revealed the plan, which is meant to strengthen the system’s overall health, during its third quarter earnings call this past October.

All four of the aforementioned restaurants were among Wendy's lowest volume stores in the Atlanta MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area), according to data from analytics firm Placer.ai, reviewed by ToNeTo Atlanta.  

Wendy's continues to operate two other Chamblee locations, one on Savoy Drive, just off I-285 near Bowlero, and another on Chamblee Tucker Road, also off I-285, near Embry Village shopping center.  

There are currently 293 Wendy's in Georgia and nearly 6,000 across the country, according to the company's website.  

What is your favorite fast-food burger?  What would you like to see open in place of the former Wendy's in Chamblee?   What chain restaurant not currently in metro Atlanta would you most like to see enter the market? 

Please share your thoughts below. 

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

someone needs to step up and save this vintage Wendy's, the epitome of classic Atlanta architecture.

Anonymous said...

I hate Wendy's, but it's a sad to see the original FF burger places struggling. I guess the service levels and food quality are the main culprits, but shifting tastes and new concepts are driving the final nails in their coffins. (not to mention outasite prices)

Anonymous said...

OMG the prices!!! Don't expect change from a $10 bill unless you buy a small drink.

Anonymous said...

I've been to the Toco remodel location several times since the remodeling and I have to say that I really miss that sunken, greenhouse-style dining area. It was definitely dated but such a cool space.

Anonymous said...

don’t worry, a half -baked Catfish and wings joint or A half baked text Max will take over the property, unless they look to rip and replace and install another car dealer. You may remember the Kia next door used to be the Piccadilly. Another alternative could be a half baked used luxury car dealer and they could leave the building as is and leverage all the parking surrounding it. So many half-baked things that could occur but hopefully we end up with something useful. Wells Fargo at the corner is in desperate need of an update, And expansion. Sometimes it seems like the entire city of Chamblee converges on the Wells Fargo. Well other banks struggle for traffic. I never see cars at the Bank of America, truest or even the Chase on Buford Highway.

Anonymous said...

There used to be a girl who worked there with red braids like Wendy back in the late 80’s. I used to think she was Wendy!

Anonymous said...

They needed to be shut down all the food was old when given to customers. I’m surprised it stayed open this long. The workers were rude and the food was never fresh.

Anonymous said...

you can thank five guys for “normalizing “the $10 burger, especially one with a single patty less than quarter pound with no fries and no drink and dare you ask for water the water cup is made for a child. Everyone should stay away from five guys in protest. Shake shack has a much better higher quality product with premium ingredients that is less expensive and there’s several locations to choose from these days. Sure their fries are no longer Hand cut since about 10 or 15 years ago however they are a good fry and they have real custard not the fake, frozen milk that comes out of the machine at five guys even Shake shack
online pricing is much less expensive than five guys. at least at Wendy’s, you can still get a Dave’s double that is made fresh never frozen for about six and change, likewise with McDonald’s who also uses fresh never frozen beef on their quarter pounders. Note, I said on the quarter pounders (only) McDonald’s uses fresh beef never frozen delivered every single day for about five years now the little burgers are still frozen.

Anonymous said...

I agree, the burgers are never fresh. All the other Wendy’s swear they do not put the burger on the grill until you order it. This Wendy’s on Peachtree industrial and Chamblee used to have them already cooked and stacked up on the grill waiting for you to order it is certainly old food, the potatoes are old. The salads were very old.

Anonymous said...

Wendy's has gone down hill. They are not as good as they use to be. The buns are not fresh. Meat seems to have gotten smaller and prices are higher. That $5 deal is a good value but very low quality. Fries are not as good as they use to be. Not sure what happened to the brand. Sad

Anonymous said...

The burger was from 1986. Hard and green.

Anonymous said...

Slutty vegan would add something new to the area

Alex said...

Culver's is what you want; everything else is trash. Screw that guy who just suggested Shake Shack, which will cost you $20. And I have no idea why he's talking up McD's like it's Chops Steakhouse.

Anonymous said...

Shake Shack tastes fine, but their burgers are basically very expensive sliders.

Anonymous said...

Bring back De-Lite’s

Anonymous said...

Chops steakhouse doesn’t serve trash burgers

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