This Tri-Cities landmark fast-food eatery is closed after decades of serving burgers and fries
The first Wendy’s restaurant to be built in the Tri-Cities has closed after 42 years.
The Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers at 3115 W. Clearwater Ave., just west of Highway 395, served its last meals Sunday.
The owners are moving their operations to other Wendy’s outlets in the Tri-Cities, including a new one opening next week on Road 68 in Pasco.
“All management is being relocated to other Wendy’s facilities and all staff has been offered a transfer to another Tri-Cities location,” Ali Pendergrass, marketing director for Wenspok, a Spokane-based Wendy’s restaurant franchisee.
New Road 68 restaurant
Wenspok announced Wednesday its new restaurant at 5706 Road 68 in Pasco will open Friday, Feb. 28, with a grand opening 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.
“This will be the company’s 53rd Wendy’s location with aggressive plans to invest in the building and remodeling of Wendy’s restaurants in the next several years as part of their commitment to growing the brand and creating more opportunities for Wenspok employees,” said a news release.
Wenspok bought the Tri-Cities franchises a few years ago.
“The Tri-Cities area has always been a supportive community and as it continues to grow and evolve, we want to make sure we are meeting the community’s needs,” said Jenn Robson, vice president of business operations. “It’s great to see the development in this area and have the opportunity to be a part of it.”
They say the new restaurant is a “Smart 55” design that’s smaller than traditional Wendy’s restaurants and can seat 58 in the dining area.
It will feature a Wi-Fi bar, fireplace, Kiosk ordering and an outdoor patio.
The grand opening will offer a free Jr. Frosty or small coffee and you can spin the prize wheel and take a photo with Wendy.
Wenspok owns more than 40 restaurants in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nebraska and California, according to the Journal of Business in Spokane.
Tri-Cities first Wendy’s
That Wendy’s opened in September 1977 in the Clearwater restaurant that cost $400,000 to build, according to the Tri-City Herald archives.
At the time it was the fastest growing restaurant chain in the U.S. and three Wendy’s were to be added in the Tri-Cities.
First the Kennewick restaurant was opening, then the Pasco one on Court Street. A Richland outlet on George Washington Way was next.
Years later, another Kennewick Wendy’s was built on Canal Drive.
The company was famously founded by Dave Thomas 50 years ago and became the third largest hamburger fast food chain behind Burger King and McDonald’s. Wendy’s is known for its signature square meat patties and its Frosty, ice cream desserts.
No other details were immediately available about the future of the Clearwater building.
The newest Wendy’s on Road 68 is at the Sandifur Crossing project on Sandifur Parkway.
It’s near the site of a Kabob House, Jamba Juice and Porter’s Real Barbecue.
Hogback Development Co. of Yakima is also developing a Kennewick site for another MOD Pizza, Starbucks and a burger restaurant in the Columbia Center mall parking lot near JC Penney.
This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 6:35 PM.