In case you may have missed it (or didn't even notice), the Burger King on Shiloh has closed. I'm only slightly surprised by the news, as this fast-food location had frequently popped up on local Facebook "community" pages with poor reviews. TripAdvisor offered some scathing reviews as well, with one customer who visited in May of 2021 leaving this,

The staff act like they’re being held hostage. No energy or customer service skills whatsoever. However they are better than the food. Cold greasy and tasteless. Still not the worst thing. The place was FILTHY. You can tell the owner bought it and hasn’t put any time into training or maintenance. Save yourself intestinal issues and eat anywhere else. Seriously.

Ouch. I'm not hating on Burger King. I do like their flame-broiled burgers... when they're hot and fresh and sort of resemble the pictures on the drive-thru board. In fact, in a blind taste test during Magic City's Best Hamburger competition, a burger entry from a BK franchise in Billings scored surprisingly well.

Michael Foth, Townsquare Media
Michael Foth, Townsquare Media
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Shiloh BK is now closed and the property is for sale.

Less than a decade old, the property was originally a Steak 'n' Shake fast-casual restaurant that opened in the rapidly expanding Shiloh Crossing neighborhood in 2013. It closed in 2016, according to this AP News story, where the owner cited staffing issues and lack of community support as reasons for closing. It became a Burger King in 2017. It's now listed by Coldwell Banker Commercial for $2,395,000 by agent George Warmer.

Michael Foth, Townsquare Media
Michael Foth, Townsquare Media
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Prime commercial real estate on the West End.

Across the street from retail anchor Scheels, and surrounded by dozens of businesses and huge apartment complexes, the Shiloh Crossing area is one of the hottest retail spots in Montana. The property is obviously perfect for another fast-food franchise. One could imagine an In-N-Out Burger, a Wingstop, a Culver's, or maybe even a Chick-fil-A sliding into the former Burger King. It's modern, with double drive-thru lanes, a large lot, and parking for like 70 cars.

Michael Foth, Townsquare Media
Michael Foth, Townsquare Media
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Just don't make it one of these...

For the love of God, I hope whoever buys the shuttered Shiloh Burger King doesn't make it a bank, casino, or yet another coffee shop. No offense to anyone involved in any of those industries. I have friends in all three and I get it; "supply and demand!", "let the market decide!", "our research says we need more!" So go for it. We all know it's probably going to become a bank, a casino, or a coffee shop anyway.

KEEP READING: 13 Businesses That Should Open a Location in Billings

It's not news anymore that Billings is a great place to start a business. Just look at the new businesses that have popped up in the last two years, and businesses are continuing to start or expand here. Even though just about any business would be great to have in our community, there are a few that we think Billings could use.

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