Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

WHEATLAND (WNE) — 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 its 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. According to Ritucci, any time you renew a franchise after 10 years, a remodel is required.

“The remodel would cost approximately $750 thousand, so we weren’t going to invest the money into it to keep it going. It’s sad, we’re going to miss it here,” Ritucci said.