Fast food burger chain in Anderson reopens with new look, 'state-of-the-art design'

AI-assisted summary
• Burger King celebrated the grand opening of its newly remodeled Anderson location on March 20th.
• The remodeled restaurant features dual drive-thru, digital ordering kiosks, and designated mobile ordering spots.
• The remodel is part of Burger King's larger "Reclaim the Flame" plan, a multi-million dollar investment to revitalize the brand.
• Burger King recently acquired Carrols Restaurant Group, its largest franchisee, in a billion-dollar deal.
• The company plans to eventually franchise most of the acquired Carrols locations to local operators.

The Burger King at 303 Pearman Dairy Road in Anderson has been updated in the franchise's new redesign, "sizzle."

Attendees got a first look at the updated design on Thursday.

Tom Roose, a former Burger King operator for 45 years in the Anderson Upstate area, reflected on the brand's significance in the community. 

"My father operated Burger King before me, and he often said it was more than just a business. It was a staple in the community, offering quality food and quality meat," he said. 

The newly remodeled Burger King on Pearman Dairy Road features a dual drive-thru, digital ordering kiosks, and designated mobile ordering spots. 

The interior has signature design elements such as the new “King Booth,” a space for families and large groups. There's also a “Crown Wall” for a must-have photo moment inspired by the iconic Burger King crown and a whopper art installation. 

The modern, eye-catching exterior features a large Burger King bun logo and a “Home of the Whopper” wall.

Dorthea Dawson, Burger King's general manager, emphasized the importance of community support in the success of the new location's remodel. "I love all my customers who come in every day and support us," she said. "It is a hard job, but I couldn't do it without you all."

Dawson also expressed gratitude to her staff, acknowledging their challenges. "We may not always see eye-to-eye on everything, but at the end of the day, we're all family, and it's all about teamwork," she said. "If we didn't work together as a team, we wouldn't see the success we do."

This development follows Burger King's acquisition of Carrols Restaurant Group, a Restaurant Brands International subsidiary, completed on January 16, 2024.

“We have a great team in place at 303 Pearman Dairy Road, Anderson,” said Carrols Regional Director Dennis Zarrelli. “Our team is excited to welcome both new and returning guests to this enhanced restaurant design. The manager and team have worked tirelessly so our guests can experience the ‘You Rule!’ motto firsthand.”

North Main Street Burger King

North Main Street Burger King in Anderson caught fire in 2023 and has been closed. 

Following the fire, the building was demolished for a new development.

Dennis Zarrelli, regional director at Carrols Corporation, said construction on the North Main Street location will begin in April. The new Burger King restaurant is expected to open its doors in August. 

Burger King's partnership with the Carrol Restaurant Group: what you need to know.

Burger King's partnership with Carrol's

According to the agreement, Carrols' team of operators will manage the acquired restaurants in partnership with Burger King's operations team. 

The plan is to eventually franchise most of the portfolio to smaller operators rooted in their local communities, like those in Anderson County. 

"We are thrilled to bring a modernized Burger King restaurant to the Anderson community," said Liz Smith, Carrol's Division vice president. "After years of serving guests in the community, we can’t wait for them to experience this state-of-the-art design and create new memories for years to come." 

Tom Curtis, president of Burger King U.S. and Canada, expressed gratitude about the new partnership. "Carrols has demonstrated strong results in improving restaurant operations and customer satisfaction," he said.  

Here is what you should know about Burger King's acquisition of Carrol's Restaurant Group.

What to know about Burger King's acquisition of Carrol's

According to a press release, Burger King purchased all outstanding Carrols shares not already owned for approximately $1 billion. 

Under the merger agreement's terms, Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, will acquire all of Carrol's issued and outstanding shares not already held by RBI or its affiliates for $9.55 per share in an all-cash transaction.

Josh Kobza, CEO of Restaurant Brands International, said, "This is a terrific example of our commitment to using our capital to accelerate growth and support Tom Curtis and his team in their broader efforts to have a more competitive Burger King restaurant base."

"The strategic merits of this acquisition are very compelling and consistent with our objective to invest our capital in long-term, high-return opportunities," Kobza said.

Burger King hopes to gain control of many more locations across the country.

Here is what you should know about Carrol's Restaurant Group.

What to know about Carrol's

According to a press release, Carrol's Restaurant Group is one of the largest restaurant franchisees in North America and has been a prominent partner of Burger King since 1976.

As the largest Burger King franchisee in the United States, Carrols currently operates 1,000 Burger King restaurants across 23 states. 

Carrols operates over 40 Burger King restaurants in South Carolina, including 35 restaurants in the Greenville-Spartanburg market.

By acquiring Carrol's Restaurant Group, Burger King aims to enhance its restaurant portfolio by leveraging Carrol's operational expertise and local market presence. 

Tom Curtis, president of Burger King U.S. and Canada, emphasized that this acquisition is an exciting accelerator for their Reclaim the Flame plan. 

To learn more about RBI, please visit the company's website at www.rbi.com

Here is what you should know about the Reclaim the Flame remodel plan. 

What to know about Burger King's Reclaim the Flame Plan

According to a press release, Burger King's Reclaim the Flame plan is a strategy to revitalize its brand and improve customer experience across its locations.

Since announcing the "Reclaim the Flame" strategy in 2022, Burger King has committed $700 million to revitalize its brand.

This financial commitment includes the recent acquisition of Carrol's Restaurant Group and renovating numerous locations to enhance customer experience. 

"The goal is to put them back into the hands of motivated, local franchisees who can create amazing experiences for our guests," Curtis said.

According to a press release, the new “Sizzle” design concept extends the Burger King franchise's goal to achieve an 85-90% modern image across the U.S. by 2028.

Here is what you should know about Burger King's new Sizzle design concept.

Burger King: Sizzle design concept

According to a press release, the Reclaim the Flame plan focuses on extensive remodeling efforts to modernize Burger King's locations.

Remodeling includes updating interiors and exteriors with contemporary designs, integrating advanced technology like digital menus and ordering systems, and improving kitchen efficiency.

Here is what you need to know about Carrol's.

What to know about Carrol's

Carrols Restaurant Group manages several Burger King locations in the Upstate, including 1103 Hyatt Street in Gaffney and 1455 Woodruff Road in Greenville.

For more information, please visit the company's website at www.carrols.com.

What to know about Burger King's remaining locations?

According to a press release, the Burger King team plans to maintain a portfolio of a few hundred company-owned locations following the franchising of the acquired restaurants.

These restaurants will be key hubs for strategic innovation, training, and operator development. 

Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.