Gyrene Burger Closes Both Naples Locations

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Published on Tuesday, 28 May 2013 22:03

Gyrene Burger, the military-themed hamburger delivery business started about 18 months ago by Ave Maria Unviersity and Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, has closed both its locations in Naples.

A posting on the Gyrene Burger website -- titled "We're moving" -- says both locations -- one on US 41 just north of 5th Ave. S., the other across from Mercato -- are closed "for the present time." The announcement said the company has "tested and tweaked our gourmet hamburger delivery concept" and will be "rolling out some new franchise locations this summer." No other locations were identified, but The Naples Daily News quotes Mr. Monaghan's assistant, Joanne Sintic, as saying that plans are in the works to open a Gyrene Burger in Knoxville, Tenn., "near a university." The University of Tennessee's main campus is in Knoxville. Ms. Sintic did not immediately return a call from The Ave Herald. Above, Tom Monaghan cooking hamburgers in February, 2012.

Locating a fast-food delivery business near a large university campus is the model Domino's used in the beginning.

Recorded messages on phone lines for both locations on US 41 -- one just north of 5th Avenue S., the other across from Mercato -- say simply that the stores are closed. The Naples Daily News reported that a sign on one of the locations said that one reason was that potential franchise owners were having trouble getting insurance for the motor scooters that were used to deliver the hamburgers. 

Gyrene Burger opened its first location in December, 2011, with the aim of providing delivery of hamburgers within 10 minutes. Employees dressed in military fatigues, in keeping with the use of "gyrene" in the name -- a knickname for U.S. Marines.

The original concept was to offer only hamburgers in two different styles -- nothing else, and no substitutions. Over time, the hamburger offerings became more flexible and soft drinks and french fries were added to the menu.

Click here for February, 2012 story on Gyrene Burger

Click here for story on closings from Naples Daily News (subscription required)