WATERVILLE — The Burger King restaurant on Kennedy Memorial Drive closed Monday after 26 years in business.

It was not clear Wednesday why the fast-food restaurant had ceased operation, but those who worked there have written on social media the eatery was not profitable and could not recruit enough workers.

The building at 465 Kennedy Memorial Drive was quiet Wednesday, its Burger King sign gone from the front, a trash receptacle in the parking lot full of debris and a sign on the front glass door reading, “CLOSED FOR GOOD !!!!!!!”

The restaurant is owned by Carrols Corp. of Syracuse, New York. The restaurant’s last day of operation was Sunday.

An email from the Burger King public relations team on Wednesday indicated that all team members have been offered roles at other Burger King restaurants in the area. It encouraged guests to visit other locations, including one nearby at 44 College Ave. in Waterville.

A woman who answered the telephone Tuesday at the Burger King at 44 College Ave. said she would have the regional manager return a call, but that manager had not called as of Wednesday.

A woman who answered the telephone Wednesday at the same Burger King identified herself as one of the eatery’s managers and confirmed the restaurant is also owned by Carrols Corp., but said she was not authorized to comment. She referred questions to Carrols.

Information on the Carrols Corp. website says the company owns and operates more than 1,000 restaurants under the Burger King and Popeyes brands.

A woman who worked at the Burger King on Kennedy Memorial Drive wrote Tuesday in a social media message to a reporter that she was open to talking about the closure, but as of Wednesday had not returned further messages seeking comment.

Social media and telephone messages left for other former employees were not returned.

Some former workers wrote in social media posts they were trying to get jobs at Burger King on College Avenue. Asked Wednesday if any of those who lost jobs had been hired at the College Avenue eatery, one of the managers there said she could not comment on personnel matters.

The former restaurant on Kennedy Memorial Drive, near Interstate 95, is adjacent to The Elmwood hotel on one side and Sweet Dirt, a marijuana store, on the other.

« Previous

Chairman Powell says Fed aiming to avoid recession while taming inflation

Next »

Fishing feud at bottom of the world splits U.S. and UK over Russia