The King is back in the Southtown neighborhood, and while it wasn’t a record return it was certainly a swift move-out/tear-down/build-out process that has brought the flame-broiled burger house back into action.
The amazingly fast turnaround took just 63 days from the first dirt being moved after the old building, at the divergence of Washington & Niles Avenues, had been demolished and removed from the premises to the final parking lot striping, signage and interior decor touches.
The popular restaurant has the entirely new, modern facade, double drive-through lanes, and sleek decor of many of the restaurants belonging to Quality Dining, Inc. of Mishawaka, Indiana. The new project began shortly after bulldozers took down the former, nearly 30 year old, building at that site where Washington Avenue, Niles Avenue and Hilltop Road all come together in the Southtown district. That process began on April 11th, and it has been a whirlwind of activity ever since.
By rerouting the drive-through process and doubling it up, Burger King operators hope to speed the delivery of meals to take out patrons and providing the dine-in customers with a considerably lighter, brighter atmosphere.
The new “Garden Grill” concept design was already employed at other local Burger King restaurants owned by Quality Dining including those on M-139 in Benton Township, M-140 in Watervliet and along Red Arrow Highway in Stevensville.
There are dining spaces for nearly 80 people inside and the restaurant, which is still accepting applications for new workers, will eventually employ up to 40 people according to Quality Dining officials. Here’s a link for those interested in working at the brand new facility:
https://www.bk.com/careers/apply
Quality Dining, Inc. owns nearly 160 Burger King restaurants in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana, as well as 45 Chili’s Grill & Bar sites, including the one right next door to the St. Joe Burger King. Additionally, they own the Papa Vino’s brand which has yet another dining option from the Fitzpatrick stable barely a block away at Hilltop & Washington in St. Joseph Charter Township.
