By Staff
LUNCH BREAK When Josh Webb, left, and Jonathan Cranford ate at Back Yard Burgers on Tuesday, they didn't realize it would be their last visit. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
May 1, 2002
Construction could begin next week on a new 24-hour Krystal restaurant on Highway 11/80 near Interstate 20/59 at the site of another fast-food restaurant that closed Tuesday.
Workers at Back Yard Burgers served their last burger Tuesday night and began cleaning out the store early today.
Mike Myers, president and chief operating officer of Back Yard Burgers in Memphis, said franchise owner Richard Wilbourn of Meridian decided months ago to close the store.
Myers said that Wilbourn "runs a few hotels and other things in Meridian, and it is my understanding that he just wanted to focus more on that. He just told us that he was getting out of the restaurant business."
Wilbourn could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Myers said Wilbourn is leasing the Back Yard Burgers restaurant building to Glenn Brown, owner of Krystal on Highway 19 North. Brown said he hopes to open the new Krystal in about two months.
The Krystal on Highway 19 North will remain open; the new store will be open around-the-clock and offer customers a place to sit and eat. Brown said he plans to hire 53 employees at the new store.
Customers eating at Back Yard Burgers on Tuesday afternoon said they were sad to see the store close.
Even though the restaurant is closing, Myers said, Back Yard Burgers' corporate headquarters in Memphis was happy with the results in Meridian.