Introduction
Burger King is one of the most popular fast food chains in the United States. Recently, one of its major franchisees, Carrols Corporation, has announced that it will be closing a number of its locations in the Midwest. This news has come as a shock to many, as the franchisee had been a major player in the fast food industry for decades. This article will discuss the reasons behind the closures, the impact it will have on the Midwest, and what the future holds for Burger King in the region.
Burger King’s Major Franchisee Shutters a Slew of Locations In the Midwest
Burger King’s largest franchisee, Carrols Restaurant Group, has announced that it will be closing a number of its locations in the Midwest. The company, which operates more than 1,000 Burger King restaurants in the United States, said that it will be closing a total of 19 locations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The closures come as the fast-food industry continues to struggle with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Carrols said that the closures were necessary in order to “right-size” its operations and ensure its long-term viability.
The closures will affect more than 500 employees, who will be offered severance packages and job placement assistance. Carrols said that it will also be offering its employees the opportunity to transfer to other locations.
The closures come as Burger King continues to struggle with declining sales. The company reported a 5.2 percent drop in same-store sales in the first quarter of 2020, and has been forced to close hundreds of locations in the United States and abroad.
Carrols said that it will continue to operate more than 800 Burger King locations in the United States, and that it is committed to providing its customers with the same quality food and service they have come to expect.
Burger King fans in the Midwest may have a harder time having it “their way” in the future, thanks to a slew of locations that closed in one metropolitan area.
At least six Burger King locations in the Dayton, Ohio, area have recently ceased operations, according to signs posted on the doors of the restaurants. The shuttered stores are located at:
- 7151 Hoke Road in Clayton
- 4465 Clyo Road in Sugarcreek Twp.
- 1401 N. Keowee Street in Dayton
- 1420 Cincinnati Street in Dayton
- 60 S. Broad Street in Fairborn
- 352 E. National Road in Vandalia
The news comes just a few short weeks after another local Burger King restaurant—at 9189 Dayton-Lebanon Pike in in Washington Twp.—abruptly went out of business.
The signs posted on the doors of the closed BK restaurants list other, local Burger King locations customers can visit instead. However, both the Fairborn and Clayton locations incorrectly suggest patrons try their luck at the Vandalia location—which is also closed.
So what’s the inside story behind these abrupt closures? The reasons aren’t quite clear yet, but we do know that all closed restaurants are owned by TOMS King (Ohio) LLC, considered one of Burger King’s largest franchisees.
Founded in 2012, TOMS King operates 90 Burger King locations across five U.S. states: Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Virginia, and Illinois. In 2018, TOMS King CEO Matt Carpenter told The Dayton Daily News that TOMS King was one of the top-performing Burger King franchisees in North America.
However, considering TOMS King was operating over 100 Burger King locations as recently as 2018, there are clear signs of regression rather than expansion.
The greater Burger King brand, meanwhile, is showing signs of a turnaround after a lackluster past few years that saw the burger brand fall behind both Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A in sales.
Burger King recently reported a 4% increase in U.S. same-store sales growth year-over-year as of Q3 2022, and a 10% jump on a global scale. The Home of the Whopper is also implementing an ambitious $400 million Reclaim the Flame plan to revitalize its brand, by updating advertising efforts, enhancing the menu, and investing in new restaurant technologies and kitchen equipment.
John Anderer