New buyer for old Burger King

MJ’s Fish & Chicken Express is on the move again.

Jerome and Margaret Taylor started the business in a concession trailer in 2015 but have had a brick-and-mortar location in the Enos Park neighborhood since 2017. They purchased the building at 716 E. Enos Ave. as a turn-key operation from the previous occupant, Susie Q’s restaurant.

Now, the couple is hoping to sell their existing location to someone else as a turn-key restaurant and move into the former Burger King restaurant at 2901 South Grand Ave. East. They appeared before the city of Springfield’s Economic Development Commission on Sept. 10 to request $300,000 in funding from the Far East TIF to offset the acquisition and renovation of the property.

Burger King closed its South Grand Avenue location in 2019 and reopened less than a block away on South Dirksen Parkway, citing improved access.

Margaret Taylor told the commission they have “outgrown the business” where they are currently located and believe the South Grand property would offer more visibility. It also has a drive-through, although Jerome Taylor said they plan to consolidate the existing three drive-up windows into one.

Commission member Leslie Sgro noted that she drives past the former Burger King on a regular basis and that it has fallen into disrepair.

“I’m thrilled that it’s going to get the TLC it needs. It’s really an eyesore right now,” Sgro said.

Jerome said the couple has the property under contract for $200,000. They are requesting TIF funds to cover 100% of the acquisition and $100,000 toward the renovation costs, which Jerome estimated at $250,000-$300,000. However, the city’s TIF administrator said the preliminary estimates provided to her showed a total project cost of $346,000 and Jerome acknowledged they were still waiting on bids for some of the interior buildout needed.

“We want to move fast,” said Jerome, telling the commission he planned to keep the current location operational until the renovation work is complete. “As fast as we can get the service providers to finish the work, that’s how soon we’ll make the move.”

The EDC makes non-binding recommendations to the Springfield City Council, which has the final say on TIF spending. The EDC voted to support the request, subject to final verification of project cost. Commissioner Joe Aiello, who also serves as the Sangamon County Treasurer, was the only dissenting vote. Aiello said he supported the Taylors’ plans to expand the business but didn’t feel comfortable voting for the project without having firm estimates of the total cost.