Popular Burger King in South Portland, Maine, Temporarily Closed

If you've driven down the busy stretch of Gorham Road near the Maine Mall in South Portland recently, you probably noticed something a little different.

At one of the key stoplights along that stretch, a large Burger King sign typically lights up the night sky. Not only that, there's usually a lengthy line of cars driven by people looking to grab a quick meal while on the run. But right now, the night sky is a little darker, and there's been no line of cars as Burger King is closed.

The closure is only temporary as the Gorham Road location undergoes a remodel. In fact, the South Portland location could be the first of many Burger King locations in Maine that will look vastly different over the next couple of years.

According to QSR Magazine, Burger King is embarking on an ambitious plan to remodel all of their restaurants over the course of the next five years. Burger King is looking to keep up with how customers order and get their food, and don't want to let their key competitor, McDonald's, gain an upper hand.

Burger King has rolled out two new restaurant designs for franchisees to choose from. An older model called "Garden Grill' features a calming interior aesthetic and some light digital upgrades to menus, ordering, and drive-thru lanes.

The most substantial makeover for Burger King restaurants is called "Sizzle". Sizzle is an overhaul of both the interior and exterior of the restaurant. The interior is filled with rich colors and a modern chic design. It also fills the restaurant with streamlined options for ordering and pickup, from in-store kiosks to their app.

One of the key elements of the "Sizzle" design is adding a second drive-thru lane. Several McDonald's locations in Maine already offer dual drive-thru lanes. Burger King plans to do the same where applicable. The South Portland location currently has limitations on that possibility.

One part of the remodel that should be obvious is mobile pick-up spots. For those ordering on the app, mobile pick-up spots will allow their food to be brought directly to their vehicle versus waiting in the drive-thru lane.

As of this writing, there is no timetable for the Burger King at 375 Gorham Road in South Portland to reopen.