Five Guys Construction Will Proceed

The owners of the future Five Guys Burgers and Fries recently hit a snag during the permit process.

The delay was caused by issues with the parking, said Donna Singer of the Hernando County Planning Department.

An agreement was reached that would provide customers with ample parking and seating. All that's left are the proper signatures and payment of the utility bills, according to Singer.

The restaurant will move into the space next to the Starbucks in the 13100 block of Cortez Boulevard in the new Coastal Way Shopping Center.

"We had some difficulties with the parking, but everything seems to be worked out now," said Chris McAdams, a spokesman with MC Construction Resource Group, a general contracting firm out of Tampa.

Some of the seating had to be reconfigured to meet the parking requirements, said McAdams.

Nothing is final as the paperwork still needs to be processed, but all parties seem to be satisfied, Singer said.

Construction will begin next week and the restaurant is expected to be open in mid-April.

Five Guys was founded in 1986 in Arlington, Va., and franchised in 2002.

It has earned best-burger honors in the Washington, D.C., area for nine years running and also has earned awards in other big cities, including Jacksonville and Orlando.

It sells hamburgers, kosher-style hot dogs and French fries. The fries are cooked in peanut oil.