The new owner of Lincoln's remaining Burger King restaurants says they will get a refresh.
Kansas King Inc. announced Tuesday that it plans to add new digital order kiosks and make other digital upgrades at the 16 Burger King locations it acquired in Nebraska and Kansas.
That includes the four remaining locations in Lincoln — at 84th and O streets, 17th and South streets, 40th Street and Old Cheney Road and 11th Street and Cornhusker Highway — along with the location in Beatrice.
Three of those locations -- the ones at 17th and South, 84th and O and 11th and Cornhusker -- also will be undergoing more extensive renovations.
Kansas King said the more minor upgrades are already underway at all locations, while the more extensive remodels will begin sometime next year.
People are also reading…
The company, which is based in Manhattan, Kansas, bought the locations out of bankruptcy in late September after former owner Meridian Restaurants Unlimited determined it could not go forward with its reorganization plans.
At the same time, Meridian also closed Lincoln Burger King locations at 48th and Holdrege streets, 48th and Van Dorn streets and 5940 Havelock Ave., as well as the location in Hastings.
Meridian had earlier closed locations at 25th and O streets and 27th and Superior streets in April, along with its location in York, as part of its bankruptcy.
The company, which bought the Nebraska locations from Horizon Holdings in 2018, originally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March, saying at the time that it planned to reorganize and didn't plan to close any locations or cut any jobs, but those plans quickly changed after a performance evaluation that determined it was, "appropriate to cease operations and close certain of the restaurants."
Kansas King is looking to reinvigorate the brand at the locations it owns. In addition to the digital upgrades being planned at all restaurants, the company also plans more extensive renovations at certain locations, although it hasn't yet said which ones.
Kim Beyer, the franchise owner and operator of Kansas King, was previously operations director for Meridian and also spent 25 years as a district manager at Burger King overseeing locations in Kansas and Nebraska.
“Having spent my entire career working for Burger King, I have a deep love and knowledge of the brand and the team members that are a part of making each location a success, many of whom I will continue working alongside,†Beyer said in a news release. “Most of these locations we’re acquiring are in the local communities I’ve grown up in and are restaurants that I’ve managed previously, so I’m excited to serve and continue making memories with the guests in these areas for years to come.â€