Where's The Beef? No Longer at Northlake. Wendy's Closed

Burger chain departed from Northlake. 

The Wendy's restaurant on LaVista Road next to Popeyes and across the street from McDonalds, not far from Northlake Mall, has closed.  The freestanding restaurant reportedly closed about two weeks ago.   Despite this fact, the restaurant's street and building signage is still intact leading nearly a dozen would-be patrons to drive into the parking lot in hopes of a meal or snack, only to discover the closure. 

Signage on the building directs patrons to an existing location on Hugh Howell Road in Tucker, about four miles away, but a Wendy's corporate source indicates that the restaurant will "relocate."  The source did not provide a timetable or location for the relocation, but perhaps it will be at "The Meridian at Tucker" project.  

Wendy's had previously closed their location within the food court at Northlake Mall.  

For various reasons, Dublin, Ohio based Wendy's has seen its store count dwindle in metro Atlanta over the past few years, according to a Wendy's real estate source. 

Over the past few years, Wendy's has closed a number of metro locations including two on Peachtree Road in Buckhead,  another on Atlanta Road near 285, a food court location at CNN Center, and on Powers Ferry Road in Sandy Springs.

Other local Wendy's restaurants have stayed open and completed various levels of the company's "Image Activation" program.  The program, launched in 2011, provides various options for upgrading existing locations to better reflect the brand's current positioning and branding.  

Local examples of Wendy's that have completed various "Image Activation" projects include those on Howell Mill Road on the Westside, on Boulevard just off Ponce de Leon Avenue, on Marietta Street near Bolton Road, and on Moreland Avenue in East Atlanta.  

The "Image Activated" Wendy's on Howell Mill Road with old signage below  

A location in the 8400 block of Roswell Road in Sandy Springs closed over two years after a fire damaged the restaurant.  While it was expected to reopen soon afterward, the owner has reportedly been going back and forth with his insurance company in the months since.  The same Dublin, Ohio based real estate source indicated this location in "scheduled" to be demolished in May and rebuilt, with a planned reopening in August.  

Another Wendy's on Piedmont Road near Piedmont Circle was sold last year.  The restaurant closed for a few weeks for what was said to be a renovation, but instead related to the change in ownership.  This restaurant is expected to close in April to undergo an "Image Activation" renovation.  No reopening timetable was available.

Where would you like to see Wendy's "relocate" near Northlake Mall?  What is your favorite menu item at Wendy's?  Has your local Wendy's gone through the company's "Image Activation" process, if so, what are your thoughts?

Please  comment below.