If you’ve recently driven by the Five Guys Burger & Fries located across the parking lot from Fresh Monkee, and next to the Max’s Pet Market & Salon (photo) at 6431 E. County Line Rd. in New Tampa, you’re already aware that this location — which is hidden from view from both Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and County Line Rd. — has closed (its last day was Mar. 15).
One of the other store owners in the same plaza told me that they had heard that this location was Five Guys corporate-owned and that, “The company apparently looked at the store’s numbers and decided that it was time to just shut it down.”
The same store owner also said that, “They literally came here on [Mar. 16] and took out most of the equipment, tore down the sign, packed it all onto a truck and drove away.”
We also have now been told by multiple sources that a Middle Eastern shawarma shop is expected to move into the now-empty Five Guys, although no one yet knows exactly when the new eatery is planning to open or its name.
In the meantime, please note that Five Guys not only still has more than 1,900 locations in operation around the world, it actually is expanding those numbers.
For New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents who still need their Five Guys burger, fries, shakes and unlimited peanuts “fix,” the franchised locations at 25599 Sierra Center Blvd., across S.R. 56 from the Tampa Premium Outlets, and at 28894 Wesley Chapel Blvd./S.R. 54, in Wesley Chapel, are both still very much open and hoping to see you soon.
We’ll keep you posted about the restaurant planned for the now-vacated Five Guys space.
For ordering and more information about Five Guys Burgers & Fries, visit FiveGuys.com. — GNÂ