After
more than a decade of operations in Springfield, Five Guys Burgers and Fries has
closed its White Oaks Mall location.
Signs
reading: “Sorry, this location is now permanently closed” appeared in the
windows at the 2501 Wabash Ave. store Nov. 28. Five Guys, a fast food chain
with a limited menu specializing in hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries, originally
opened there in 2012.
The Virginia-based company opened its first restaurant
in 1986 in Arlington County, Virginia, and began franchising locations in 2003,
leading to rapid expansion. According to the company’s website, there are
currently more than 1,400 restaurants in 49 states plus Washington, D.C.
There
are 40 Five Guys locations in Illinois alone, with nearby restaurants in
Champaign, Normal, Peoria, Fairview Heights and O’Fallon.
Representatives
from Five Guys’ corporate office did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
This article appears in November SBJ 2023.