Burger King shuts down operations in Platte Co.

Mark DeLap
Posted 7/1/20

“We knew that our franchise agreement was coming to an end, but we didn’t share it with the store because we wanted to have employees here,” Ritucci said. “As for the building, Joe Lucas, the president of the company owns it so he will put it up for sale.”

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Burger King shuts down operations in Platte Co.

Posted



WHEATLAND – You will no longer be able to have it your way in Platte County as Burger King, the 30-year iconic Wheatland franchise has closed its doors.
According to Burger King vice president, Shelly Ritucci who oversees 20 western stores, the company knew that the lease was coming to it’s 10-year point of renewing or refusing. The employees were not informed until June 28, and the store was shut down as of June 29.

“We knew that our franchise agreement was coming to an end, but we didn’t share it with the store because we wanted to have employees here,” Ritucci said. “As for the building, Joe Lucas, the president of the company owns it so he will put it up for sale.”
Costs were the main reason that this franchise was not to continue in Platte County.
“Whenever you do a resign for the franchise for another 10 years, the store is required to a remodel,” Ritucci said. “The remodel would cost approximately $750 thousand, so we weren’t going to invest the money into it to keep it going.”
According to Ritucci, any time you renew a franchise after 10 years, a remodel is required.
Joe Lucas is from Boulder, Colo., and could not be reached for comment.
“It’s sad, we’re going to miss it here,” Ritucci said. “30 years we’ve been in business. I’ve been with them for the past 11 years. We still have 20 other stores that I run. We have two in Cheyenne and all kinds in Colorado.”
They send Ritucci in to make sure all of the equipment is taken out of the building and sent to a warehouse for backup in case they need something replaced in another store.