Five Guys temporarily closes for remodeling work

By Cameron Montemayor

A popular local burger joint is temporarily closing its doors in St. Joseph as it undergoes an interior facelift this month.

Fans of the restaurant chain Five Guys will have to wait a little bit before they’re able to enjoy the chain’s burgers and fries once again at its location at Belt Highway and Frederick Avenue.

The fast-food restaurant closed on Monday for remodeling work and is scheduled to reopen at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 29.

A tenant of the East Hills Shopping Center, General Manager Lindsey Davis is eager to see enhancements to one of its popular food destinations.

“We are excited for Five Guys to refresh their space, continuing to offer St. Joseph not only great food, but a great environment,” Davis said.

While the company hasn’t announced exact details of the remodeling work yet, crews with Meyer Brothers Building Company — a Kansas City-based company — were seen working throughout the morning and afternoon on the dining and kitchen areas on Tuesday.

Located at 3700 Frederick Ave., the restaurant has become a fan-favorite in St. Joseph after first opening its doors in 2012.

St. Joseph resident Alyas Auxier and friend Miles were both surprised to see the restaurant wasn’t open when they approached the front door in anticipation of afternoon lunch.

“It’s not like some of the other burger restaurants we’ve got here,” Auxier said. “It has a classic feel to it.”

While the two will be patient with one of their favored burger joints as remodeling work takes place, it’ll be a no-brainer where they choose to go to lunch in two weeks.

“We’ll be looking forward to it,” Auxier said as the two laughed.

Five Guys is one of 1,000 locations in 47 states and 27 in the state of Missouri. The region’s franchisee, Mike Richey of RWT LLC, is based out of Lawrence, Kansas.