Beavercreek restaurant is closed ‘until further notice’ after franchise owner leaves the country

Wayback Burgers is exploring its options as to whether it will reopen Mall at Fairfield Commons location

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

What to Know
By Mark Fisher
July 1, 2020
X

A restaurant that has operated for more than four years at the Mall at Fairfield Commons is now closed “until further notice” because its franchise owner returned to his native Bahamas, according to a spokeswoman for the restaurant’s corporate parent.

>> Elsa's Corner Cantina employee tests positive for COVID-19

All restaurants in the Fairfield Commons food court are open and operating except for one: Wayback Burgers, which, when it opened more than four years ago, was only the second location in Ohio for the Connecticut-based restaurant chain. But potential customers of the Beavercreek Wayback are now greeted by a sign taped to the counter that advises diners, “The store is temporarily closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

>> Corner Kitchen restaurant closes indefinitely

A spokeswoman for Wayback Burgers offered at least some hope the restaurant could reopen.

>> Young's Dairy celebrating Independence Day early with days of deals

“The Fairfield Mall location is closed until further notice. The local owner moved back to his native Bahamas,” the Wayback Burgers spokeswoman told this news outlet this week. “The Mall has been notified. Wayback Burgers is exploring whether or not it will open under new ownership in the future, but at the moment there is no re-open date.”

>> Tank's Bar & Grill revises reopening plans

The Wayback Burgers restaurant in the Mall at Fairfield Commons Food Court is closed "until further notice" because its franchise owner returned to his native Bahamas, a spokeswoman for the restaurant chain said. This sign is taped to the restaurant's counter.

Credit: Mark Fisher

icon to expand image

Credit: Mark Fisher

Wayback Burgers now has three other locations in Ohio, including one in the West Chester area. Those restaurants are all open and operating, according to the company’s web site.

>> HEALTH ALERT: Fresh Express salad products recalled for potential link to parasite illnesses

The Fairfield Commons restaurant occupies 955 square feet at the center of the mall’s food court.

The Cheshire, Connecticut-based Wayback Burgers began in 1991 as Jake’s Hamburgers in Newark, Delaware. In 2010, Jake’s Hamburgers changed its name to Jake’s Wayback Burgers.

>> Chuck E. Cheese files for bankruptcy reorganization, closes 3 Ohio locations

As of mid-2019, the franchise-based chain operated 166 restaurants in 30 states throughout the U.S. and several countries around the globe, and it had more than 500 commitments to open new locations over the next several years, company officials said in a release.

Wayback offers specialty burgers and shakes, as well as house-made potato chips, beef hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, turkey burgers and salads.

In Other News
1
Friday the 13th: What is so unlucky about it?
2
Jump start gardening by making a plan
3
Lily’s Dayton executive chef’s deviled eggs are tested by other chefs
4
Watch: Track for new roller coaster delivered to Kings Island
5
Locals who have appeared on Food Network share their experiences

About the Author

Mark Fisher, a 1981 graduate of Ohio State University and a 1976 graduate of Beavercreek High School, is a third-generation Dayton-area resident who has worked for the Dayton Daily News since 1983. He covered higher education and K-12 education accountability issues for nearly 20 years before taking over the food and dining beat in 2006.