Dump It Or Embrace It? Redevelopment Burger King Has Us Talking

The Temple Terrace City Council’s initial approval of a plan to relocate Burger King in the redevelopment area has Temple Terrace Patch readers talking.

The plan calls for the front of the new Burger King to face the Sweetbay plaza and the back, including a dumpster, to face 56th Street.

Some readers, like Jamie Robe, agree with the council’s decision.

“Not everything, be a BK or coffee shop will front 56th,” he wrote. “That is what we are tearing down. I seriously doubt the BK dumpster will be visible. That would not make any business sense for BK attracting customers.”

Daniel Fitzpatrick chairman and CEO of Quality Dining, which owns the Burger King, told the council earlier this month that the dumpster would be blended into the building so that it would be difficult to notice unless you were standing directly in front of it. The back of the building would also be screened from 56th Street.

“It will be the most undumpster-like dumpster that you’ve had in this town,” Fitzpatrick said.

He also said the new Burger King would be unique.

“I have been in literally hundreds if not thousands of Burger King restaurants,” he said. “There’s none in our system that look even close to this.”

But readers like Sally Oakes Ballas are against the plan.

“I will never in my right mind support the backside of BK sitting on 56th St.,” she wrote. “It is not just a dumpster.....drive behind any restaurant and think about it.”

City Councilman Grant Rimbey also commented on the story and encouraged everyone to get the full details of what the council discussed.

“In addition, if anyone is interested in reading the council deliberation on the new Burger king, here are the City Council Minutes, please start at page 18 - http://fl-templeterrace.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/816.”

What do you think? Are you OK with the back of Burger King facing 56th Street if it’s properly screened and the dumpster is disguised? Is it important for the front of Burger King to face Arts Center Drive, the main street that runs through the redevelopment area?