COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Diners and lunch-seekers along part of the Appleway corridor in Coeur d’Alene now have lost a few options.
Four fast food restaurants within a two-block radius have all coincidentally closed their doors recently. The closings have all been within the last year, it appears.
The restaurants, located near the Appleway Avenue and US-95 corridor, include Chipotle, Taco Time, Burger King, and Dairy Queen. The locations are all between US-95 and North 4th Street.
While Appeway is full of fast food restaurants, the street receives a fair amount of traffic. It’s also worth noting that the population of Kootenai County has grown in recent years. Coeur d’Alene has been reported as the fastest-growing metropolitan area in Idaho. However, new restaurant openings in the area and changing tastes could potentially be leading diners elsewhere.
So, what could be behind the Appleway closings?
Taco Time closed within the last few months after the owners of the location decided to retire. The decision appeared to be a personal one and the location off of 4th had remained profitable, according to realtor Keith Boe who is listing the building. The owners didn’t desire to sign a new multi-year lease on the property, Boe said. A sign posted outside the location thanked Coeur d’Alene patrons for their years of service.
Around the corner and down the street, a Burger King location closed its doors for good in May. A realtor associated with the property told KREM that the owners of that location didn’t wish to renew their lease either. Their motive wasn’t entirely clear, though, and the realtor suggested that the owners may have sought out a new location.
The reasons behind Dairy Queen’s closure aren’t entirely apparent either. A realtor for the property didn’t return a call seeking comment on Thursday. The location, however, appears to still be filled with furniture and soda machines. Dairy Queen logos, banners, and signs still grace the building’s exterior. “Incredible location for restaurant, retail, or service. Very high exposure location,” reads an online listing for the structure. “All furnishings, equipment included.”
Chipotle’s closing appears to be the least surprising, however. In June, the company announced that it was shuttering up to 65 underperforming stores across the country. The move came as an effort to boost profitability. At the time, Chipotle did not announce which specific locations it was closing, USA Today reported.
Like the others, the Chipotle building was also listed as available for lease. While the closings have appeared to be a coincidence, it could potentially be the perfect storm for an enterprising businessperson or restaurateur.