Burger King to reopen

PALMER -- The Palmer Burger King is scheduled to reopen this Sunday, two months after Alaska Burger Kings closed due to bankruptcy filed by the franchise's prior owner, Restaurants Northwest.

Jim Hinkle, a former Burger King employee who lost his job when the business closed, has joined forces with investors with 'ties to Alaska' to create Aurora Foods LLC; the business which bought six Alaska Burger King franchises earlier this month. The Palmer restaurant is the second Burger King to reopen since the purchase; an Anchorage Burger King off of Northern Lights opened Tuesday.

"We're back better than before," said Hinkle, managing director.

Hinkle said the entire management strategy to run these Burger Kings has changed with the ownership; the company and its employees will focus on cleanliness and customer service, along with an effort to become members of the community where the stores are located.

"I personally have made a commitment to meet every employee before they start working with us," Hinkle said. The company joined the Palmer Chamber of Commerce last week.

Plans to have all six Burger Kings open by the end of March are in place; Aurora Foods owns both the Palmer and Wasilla Burger Kings, along with three restaurants in Anchorage and one in Fairbanks. Hinkle has worked quickly to get the Anchorage and Palmer Burger Kings open; Aurora Foods was incorporated only weeks ago, once the bankruptcy court approved the resale of the franchise.

"I couldn't imagine an Alaska without a Burger King anymore," Hinkle said.

The Palmer store will open at 10 a.m. on Sunday, after that, the restaurant will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Hinkle has been hiring employees to staff the restaurant, more than 30 applicants have turned in applications for the Palmer store.

A grand opening celebration is scheduled for the third week of March when the Wasilla restaurant is expected to be open as well. Hinkle promises the restaurants will be on the cutting edge of fast food.

"Our goal is to offer fresh and fast foods, to have the queen of restaurants and have the best customer service," Hinkle said. "Come have a burger on Sunday."