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College Ave. Wendy's reopening
By Michelle Koetters
mkoetters@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL — One of two closed Normal Wendy’s restaurants will reopen early next month. Wendnormal Realty LLC, based in Bloomington, purchased the site at 1600 E. College Ave, from Wendy’s International Inc. for $550,000.

Joe Francois of Bloomington, president of Wendnormal, expects the fast food restaurant will reopen April 6.

“Normal deserves a Wendy’s,” Francois said. “It was a great location there before. It did very well sales-wise. With the renovations we’re doing, it should do even better.”

The company spent $400,000 to remodel the local chain. It has replaced the roof and is redoing the dining room, kitchen and bathrooms as well as fixing the parking lot and doing landscape work, Francois said.

Francois hired 35 employees for his Normal restaurant. Dining room hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The drive-through will remain open until midnight.

The College Avenue Wendy’s is the second for the company. Wendnormal also opened a Springfield location at the end of January. It has plans to keep growing, Francois said.

“We hope to have six to 10 when we’re all done,” he said.

The company is eyeing closed Wendy’s locations in Champaign and East Peoria and is considering building a couple new buildings in Bloomington, Francois said.

One location he will not reopen is Normal’s second shuttered Wendy’s at 1315 S. Main St. Francois said Wendy’s International sold that building and land to someone else, and it will not be a Wendy’s.

Wendy’s International did not return phone calls to discuss the fate of the Main Street eatery.

Both Wendy’s restaurants in Normal, along with about two dozen others in Missouri and Illinois, closed in September after franchise operator WenAmerica LLC of Chesterfield, Mo., experienced financial troubles.

The company owes the town of Normal about $70,000 in unpaid taxes, among its other debts.

WenAmerica is still in bankruptcy court in Missouri. The town of Normal is waiting until the case makes its way through the courts before it decides what further action it will take to collect what it’s due, said Normal attorney Wayne Karplus.

A third Twin City location at 1522 W. Market St. in Bloomington is owned by another company and has not been affected.

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Reader comments on this story - 22 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Sam wrote on Jul 25, 2007 9:04 PM:

" Why can't we have a Sonic store here? "

just wondering wrote on Mar 31, 2007 11:53 PM:

" i just wonder if they have concidered either a white castle or a ralleys(checkers) here id go to either if for nothing else then a change of the norm in (fat)fastfood places "

To Food Critic wrote on Mar 31, 2007 9:02 PM:

" Bravo! You review was excellent. Keep up the good work. "

Food Critic wrote on Mar 31, 2007 7:54 PM:

" Wendy's, with its eclectic blend of American dishes, offers its own take on the classic fast food offerings. Its chili provides a south-of-the-border nuance, while its hamburgers and fries pay homage to the traditional Midwestern meat-and-potatoes . Highly recommended are Wendy's beverage selections, including classic soft drinks. For dessert, consider the Frosty, an enigmatic hybrid of the fast food shake and soft serve ice cream. Reservations not necessary. Casual dress is appropriate. "

employee who lost there jobs wrote on Mar 31, 2007 5:43 PM:

" I really hope the employees and managers are all doing well after losing there jobs. I really hope they come back with the store. They were all good people who did not deserve what happened. Yee haw Frosty's are coming back to Normal!!!! "

Lucky wrote on Mar 31, 2007 5:05 PM:

" I miss the Wendy's on Main St. To be able to substitute the baked potato or the small ceasar salad for the fries was a great choice. i go to the one on Market once in awhile, but the prices are higher. College Ave is out of my way. Downtown would be nice. There are no downtown fast food restaurants at all. Just sandwich shops. "

Someone wake up wrote on Mar 31, 2007 4:52 PM:

" Why one Earth is their not a Taco Bell on the side of town by State Farm and Eastland mall...talk about a huge money maker that would be. If anyone wants to invest some money, let me know and I will run it!..... "

GOOD wrote on Mar 31, 2007 4:51 PM:

" I like Wendys for the dollar menu, more options than McDonalds! "

Excellent wrote on Mar 31, 2007 4:40 PM:

" Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Salad, Diet Coke is the way to go. "

Excited!!! wrote on Mar 31, 2007 2:44 PM:

" You know, out east on Ireland Grove would be a great place to put one!!! "

A Friend wrote on Mar 31, 2007 2:33 PM:

" Just what this community didn't need. Another fast food place to feed the obese. "

Mac Daddy wrote on Mar 31, 2007 11:58 AM:

" We need one by BW3. So I can get wings and a frosty!! :) "

best burgers? wrote on Mar 31, 2007 10:52 AM:

" Culver's, followed by Steak and Shake. Nobody else is even close. "

Dave wrote on Mar 31, 2007 10:44 AM:

" Good luck with your Wendy's Joe. I am looking forward to my first Frosty when College Ave. opens up. "

Frostys! wrote on Mar 31, 2007 9:24 AM:

" I love em! "

Hooray! wrote on Mar 31, 2007 9:24 AM:

" The best burgers in the fast food business are coming back to Normal! "

Awww wrote on Mar 31, 2007 7:44 AM:

" I was really hoping the one on Main would reopen. :( I wonder what it's going to be. Anyone have the scoop? "

Mary wrote on Mar 31, 2007 3:11 AM:

" Glad to hear it's opening back.......it's on my way to work. Thank goodness they're fixing the parking lot........you could lose your car in some of those holes! "

LT wrote on Mar 31, 2007 1:33 AM:

" Hope they reopen the Wendy's in Morton. "

Yea wrote on Mar 30, 2007 9:29 PM:

" Glad to hear that the store on College Avenue is opening again. I have missed it alot. Best of luck to Mr. Francois and his company Wendnormal. "

i am wrote on Mar 30, 2007 8:52 PM:

" not a big Wendy's fan but have missed it since it is gone so i am happy about this "

Matt wrote on Mar 30, 2007 7:10 PM:

" Good luck. Open one over by Eastland, would ya? The fast food in the area is not so good. "
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