More Empty Storefronts Downtown - 5 Guys Closes

[Jim O'Bryan]

A bunch of people sent in i-phone images of the torn sign at 5 Guys Burgers, most thought
it was the storm that brought it down.

What many did not know is that it was the management that tore it down as they prepared
to close their "corporate offices" in Lakewood Ohio.


The windows are covered up and it is being emptied inside.

Taped on the door.

Dear Lakewood Family,
wonderful Lakewood Community, Five Guys
Lakewood will be closing its doors on Saturday, Feb
2nd, 2013. We are very grateful to everyone who
has supported us and we look forward to serving
you at our Five Guys Westgate* location at 3100
Westgate Mall (440-333-5570) going forward. We
look forward to supporting any fundraisers via our
Five Guys Westgate store as well. Thank you once
again for your support.
Five Guys Lakewood Family



Wow, Lakewood Family? When does a family pack up and leave in the middle of the night?

I remember the city and Lakewood Alive touting the loans, tiffs, and assistance it gave to
5 Guys Burgers, and how they were moving their "corporate offices" here which was never the case.

So one needs to wonder if one of the most popular burger chains in America has a tough
time on the Detroit Avenue Chow-Line how will the rest fair?

Stay tuned.

.

[Scott Meeson]

A bunch of people sent in i-phone images of the torn sign at 5 Guys Burgers, most thought
it was the storm that brought it down.

What many did not know is that it was the management that tore it down as they prepared
to close their "corporate offices" in Lakewood Ohio.


The windows are covered up and it is being emptied inside.

Taped on the door.

Dear Lakewood Family,
wonderful Lakewood Community, Five Guys
Lakewood will be closing its doors on Saturday, Feb
2nd, 2013. We are very grateful to everyone who
has supported us and we look forward to serving
you at our Five Guys Westgate* location at 3100
Westgate Mall (440-333-5570) going forward. We
look forward to supporting any fundraisers via our
Five Guys Westgate store as well. Thank you once
again for your support.
Five Guys Lakewood Family



Wow, Lakewood Family? When does a family pack up and leave in the middle of the night?

I remember the city and Lakewood Alive touting the loans, tiffs, and assistance it gave to
5 Guys Burgers, and how moving their "corporate offices" which was never the case.

So one needs to wonder if one of the most popular burger chains in America has a tough
time on the Detroit Avenue Chow-Line how will the rest fair?

Stay tuned.

.

Jim,

Any idea why they never moved their corporate offices to Lakewood?

Scott

[Matthew Lee]

We enjoyed going to 5 Guys now and then but they never really occupied a "must eat" for us and their location was extremely big, I think, for what they offered.

If you want a really good burger, most people might pay more for Jammy Buggars, 56 West etc. If you want an inexpensive burger, people will go to McDonalds or Burger King. If you want "upscale casual" people will go to Chipotle or Panera.

They were always really nice there and the food was decent but, IMHO, it wasn't so special and unique that you would go out of your way to go again and again.

[Bill Call]

We enjoyed going to 5 Guys now and then but they never really occupied a "must eat" for us and their location was extremely big, I think, for what they offered.

If you want a really good burger, most people might pay more for Jammy Buggars, 56 West etc. If you want an inexpensive burger, people will go to McDonalds or Burger King. If you want "upscale casual" people will go to Chipotle or Panera.

They were always really nice there and the food was decent but, IMHO, it wasn't so special and unique that you would go out of your way to go again and again.

Five guys burgers were no better than Wendy's and a little more expensive.

A new wine bar is set to open next to Drug Mart. How many burger places does a town need?

[Peter Grossetti]

No veggie burger offered at 5 Guys.

[stephen davis]

I understand them wanting to take down the sign, but did they have to leave this eyesore?

.

[Peter Grossetti]

I understand them wanting to take down the sign, but did they have to leave this eyesore?

.

"It's hard work!" ~George W. Bush



(taking a page from the Scott Meeson playbook )

[Jeff Dreger]

How many burger places does a town need?

Looks like we're starting to find out the answer from the market forces at work. I never went there. Better choices on the chow line in my opinion. And unlike some places, it was never busy from day one - at least from what I saw as it's at the end of the street.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Update...

In a text message during halftime of the Super Bowl.

Mayor Michael P. Summers, "It is a shame, but not a surprise. The owners expressed concern a year
and a half ago. We will try to learn from this."

.

[Jim O'Bryan]

The City of Lakewood gave Wholesome Food, the parent company of 5-Guys Burgers a
$100,000 forgivable loan for 5 years to renovate the old Party Station.

Nate Kelley then Planning Director, commented saying the the company moving its headquarters from
Pittsburgh to Cleveland would create a payroll of $400,000 and taxes of over $70,000 per year.

Mayor Ed FitzGerald praised Kelley's efforts, and Councilman Tom Bullock who "reps dat block," called
the new burger place "A great shot in the arm for the neighborhood."

LakewoodAlive heralded it as a great addition to Lakewood.
http://www.lakewoodalive.com/current-development-lakewood.html Please note, Lakewood
Alive had little if anything to do with the development on this page. (That was old regime LA)

More coming...

.

[Michael Loje]

Wholesome Burger is not the parent company of 5 Guys Burgers, they are the Northeast Ohio/Pittsburgh franchisee. I have seen references to them in other articles, regarding other store locations, as being Lakewood-based. Are we sure they did not move their offices to Lakewood?
Another question; Does Wholesome Burger have any ownership interest in the building?

[Valerie Molinski]

Wholesome Burger is not the parent company of 5 Guys Burgers, they are the Northeast Ohio/Pittsburgh franchisee. I have seen references to them in other articles, regarding other store locations, as being Lakewood-based. Are we sure they did not move their offices to Lakewood?
Another question; Does Wholesome Burger have any ownership interest in the building?

The lower level was built out to house their offices. I cannot say if they occupied it as I do not know the answer to that. You are correct, though.... They are only a NEO franchisee, not the parent company of the entire Five Guys Burgers.

Wholesome Burgers owns the entire building.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Wholesome Burger is not the parent company of 5 Guys Burgers, they are the Northeast Ohio/Pittsburgh franchisee. I have seen references to them in other articles, regarding other store locations, as being Lakewood-based. Are we sure they did not move their offices to Lakewood?
Another question; Does Wholesome Burger have any ownership interest in the building?

The lower level was built out to house their offices. I cannot say if they occupied it as I do not know the answer to that. You are correct, though.... They are only a NEO franchisee, not the parent company of the entire Five Guys Burgers.

Wholesome Burgers owns the entire building.

Mike/Val

I think it is Wholesome Foods, not Burgers, at least that was the name on the loan.

I only say corporate offices as that is how it was "sold" to the city in the many press releases and
award ceremonies for all the people that brought them here. Which according to some was really
the past owner, it was the city that made way for the loan.

They did and possibly still do occupy the offices, as I had been in them as late as 4 months ago. It
was a regional office for Wholesome Foods, which is probably even smaller than thought. It was
an uphill battle from day one, they never realized the full potential though I have no idea who set
those levels or if they were even realistic.

The good news is I had lunch yesterday with a restauranteur/food entrepreneur that is either
interested in that space or other space in Lakewood for his pretty unique idea for a food place
that would server both eat in, and retail store for their other products.

We shall see if anything materializes as this was just "talk" at this point.

.

[Valerie Molinski]

Sorry, you are correct. Wholesome Foods. I mis-typed.

[Valerie Molinski]

They did and possibly still do occupy the offices, as I had been in them as late as 4 months ago. It
was a regional office for Wholesome Foods, which is probably even smaller than thought. It was
an uphill battle from day one, they never realized the full potential though I have no idea who set
those levels or if they were even realistic.

So are they in there or not? Because in your OP, you cite the closing of the restaurant portion AND the corporate offices.

...... as they prepared to close their "corporate offices" in Lakewood Ohio.

And yes, it is a small space below as there are only a few people who work out of that regional office. Wholesome Foods is a small franchisee.. not some gigantic corporation. So if if is only 4 people, they get quotes around "corporate offices?"

So either you are mis-speaking or you are again putting the hyperbole on strong. Not trying to call you out on this one, but what are the facts on this? We all know the food portion is closed.. are the office abandoned as you alluded to? Why don't you head across the street and knock on the door?

As they own the entire building, I have to wonder why, if they did end up working out of the lower lever, that they would finish it out and just close that too, when in fact they own that building.