If you want to order a Frosty in the middle of a D.C. intersection, time is running out.
The Wendy’s at the center of what’s been dubbed “Dave Thomas Circle,” after the company's founder, will close Tuesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser said in tweet Friday night.
The mayor said she was told the fast food joint at Florida and New York avenues NE would operate on Tuesday and completely leave by the end of the month.
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D.C. used eminent domain to acquire the property in the notoriously confusing and congested intersection. The intersection will be redesigned to be simpler and safer, the mayor’s office announced in February.
“Almost every Washingtonian has their own Dave Thomas Circle horror story,” Bowser said at the time. “Now, we are taking the necessary actions to transform this confusing intersection into a multimodal project that supports the current and future needs of DC drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.”
D.C.’s transportation department was helping the Wendy’s relocate, the mayor’s office said in February
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Wendy’s corporate headquarters said in a statement Sunday night that Wendy’s was “forced” to close the restaurant and legal proceedings are ongoing. They embraced the Dave Thomas Circle name and said the location is "one of the most special and recognizable restaurants in our portfolio."
Here’s their full statement:
"The Wendy’s restaurant at Dave Thomas Circle has been a beloved part of the brand and has served members of the community and commuters for decades. The name “Dave Thomas Circle” is synonymous with Wendy’s and honors our founder, making it one of the most special and recognizable restaurants in our portfolio and a highly valuable asset of The Wendy’s Company.
Wendy’s has been forced to close the restaurant and surrender possession to the District of Columbia by the end of September so the District can begin their planned project. The Company and our franchisee are still working through the Court process to ensure that we are compensated appropriately for the restaurant relocation, and for our lost name and business association between the Dave Thomas Circle and the Wendy’s brand."
A Wendy's spokesperson did not respond to a question about where or when another location could open in the area.
“Onward to a less confusing and safer intersection. Grateful for the advocacy of neighbors who helped us get here,” the mayor’s tweet Friday said.
The redesign will have protected bike lanes and three public park spaces. Go here to see plans for the redesign of the intersection.
