The home of the Whopper is getting a new look in downtown Hornell.
Burger King has submitted major exterior renovation plans for its location at 45 Main St. in the Maple City.
On May 19, the Hornell Planning Board reviewed and approved Burger King’s planned changes to the restaurant’s exterior and signs, according to Heather Reynolds, director of the city planning office.
The Planning Board’s approval was needed because the restaurant sits in a “historic overlay district.”
Hornell officials said the renovations will have no effect on the building’s physical footprint, which is not changing. The interior of the restaurant is also getting a makeover.
Burger King said the project is expected to begin early this summer and be completed toward the end of summer or early in the fall.
“The restaurant is being remodeled to our latest design − ‘Sizzle’ − featuring both exterior and interior improvements that will bring a modernized guest experience to the Hornell community,” a spokesperson said.
Features of the “Sizzle” design include interior and exterior upgrades like digital ordering kiosks, an updated drive-thru, and stand out design elements like the King Booth and Home of the Whopper wall, Burger King said.
How the Hornell Burger King’s exterior is changing
The exterior of the building will be updated with a fresh color scheme and new Burger King signage. According to architectural plans submitted to the city, the scope of the work also includes:
Other changes and updates include:
Burger King modernizing restaurants in multi-year program
According to Steuben County property records, the single-story 3,020 square-foot restaurant was constructed in 1988 and is located on about a half-acre of land.
In 2025, Burger King announced plans to remodel about 400 of its locations amid a multi-year program to modernize its restaurants.
The fast food giant was expected to complete about 2,000 remodels by 2028; at that point, more than 85% of the U.S. restaurants would reflect the new “Sizzle” modern image, company officials said.
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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell Burger King restaurant will ‘Sizzle’ with these renovations
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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