The owners of a local Burger King restaurant have closed it after 25 years in business. The fast-food eatery, located at 890 North Main Street (Highway 9) in Alpharetta, reportedly closed abruptly earlier this week with signage now removed and a notice on the door confirming its permanent closure.
Amazingly, it was on September 18 that the restaurant scored a perfect 100 in its routine Fulton County health inspection.
Tax records indicate that the 4,237 square foot building was constructed in 2001, sits on about .95 acres and last sold for approximately $1.9M in 2013. Online research indicates that the building has been marketed for lease for several months and that Burger King's existing lease expired October 31.
The building's size, unique architectural elements, and the presence of an enclosed space for a previously removed playground could make repurposing the existing structure challenging but not impossible. That said, a likely replacement restaurant is Raising Cane's, which has been aggressively expanding in metro Atlanta but does not yet have a presence in Alpharetta.
For its part, Burger King has been riding a wave of excitement and sales increases which many attribute to an improved digital program, renovated restaurants, and upgrades to the brand's Whopper burger. The changes have resulted in the brand overtaking Wendy's as the second-largest burger chain in the U.S. by systemwide sales, reclaiming the spot it lost six years ago. Burger King is still well behind industry stalwart McDonald's which has held the number one position for decades.
The Alpharetta restaurant is at least the fifth Burger King to close in the vicinity in recent years following the closures of 11780 Haynes Bridge Road in Alpharetta, 1725 Buford Highway in Cumming, 1425 Market Boulevard in Roswell, and 11570 Alpharetta Highway in Roswell. Burger King restaurants have also closed in recent years in Kennesaw, Chamblee, and Tucker, among other area closures.
Several restaurants along Highway 9 and Windward Parkway have closed over the years, but in most cases have been quickly backfilled by other, primarily restaurant, businesses.
The changes in recent years include:
Former IHOP now a Peachtree Immediate Care (870 North Main Street)
Former KFC now Jim 'N Nick's Community Bar-B-Q (5150 Windward Parkway)
Former Arby's now Scoville Hot Chicken (5160 Windward Parkway)
Former Del Taco now Caribou Coffee (12996 Alpharetta Highway)
Former Chili's now First Watch (5035 Windward Parkway)
Former Romano's Macaroni Grill now Connor's Steak & Seafood (5045 Windward Parkway)
One exception to this consistent absorption of vacancy is the freestanding Cracker Barrel at 5580 Windward Parkway which closed this past May and remains vacant, but is actively being marketed for lease or sale.
Are you surprised to see Burger King close in Alpharetta? What is your favorite fast-food burger chain? Which would you most like to see open in place of the shuttered Burger King in Alpharetta?
Please share your thoughts below.
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