Highway 5 Burger King building torn down

The long-empty Burger King restaurant at Highway 5 and County Road 4 is no more.

On Monday, April 4, crews tore down the building, which closed about four years ago. It originally opened in 1983.

The city has reviewed a development plan for constructing a new Burger King on that site (the actual address is 16345 Terry Pine Drive).

Julie Klima, the city’s community development director, said the review process of that plan is not yet complete.

“The developer agreement is out for signature by the developer,” she said in an email Monday. “Once the developer signs, it would be scheduled for final review by the City Council.”

That location is owned by the Toronto-based RBI (Restaurant Brands International), which owns the Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes brands.

Cave Enterprises Operating LLC, which is headquartered in Chicago and has Burger King restaurants in six states, has been negotiating for about three years on a new lease and franchise agreement with RBI for the site, said David Lindahl, the city’s economic development manager.

It brought plans for the new Burger King through the city’s process last year, both to the planning commission and City Council. But, Lindahl said, Cave Enterprises has yet to sign a developer agreement, which is required before the city fully approves it.

The plan approved last August by the City Council called for the new Burger King to have two drive-through-service lanes and an outdoor playground for children.

RBI also owns the other closed Burger King in Eden Prairie. It’s at 8340 Crystal View Drive, just southwest of Eden Prairie Center across Flying Cloud Drive.

Lindahl said RBI told the city that the site is being sold to a partner developer for a yet-to-be-determined use.

The city has received demolition permit applications for both of the projects.

According to an article in the Eden Prairie News, the two restaurants were among nine Burger King locations across the state to close in 2018. Those locations were franchised at the time by Illinois-based P3 Foods LLC. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2016.