Businesses open and close every month in Selma. Most of the time, you can tell when a business is getting ready to close its doors. Inventories get low and sometimes the business even holds a “going out of business” sale.

But the recent closings of Selma’s two Burger King stores, really caught folks off-guard.

The two stores closed Saturday with little warning. Employees say the owners asked cooks to stop filling orders and to clock out and go home. And with that, no more Burger King.

It needs to be said that Selma was not the only city that had a Burger King close. Other stores in Alabama have closed.

There is no indication from owners that the stores will reopen.

Burger King is one of the largest fast food chains in the United States. The company offers good products that are popular and Burger King’s menu will be missed here.

We are hoping that Burger King will look at re-opening the stores. Selma needs as many restaurant choices as possible. It adds to the value of the community and makes living here more pleasant.

We find it hard to accept that a lack of business in Selma led to the

closings. Most towns of 20,000 have a Burger King.

We are asking Burger King executives to re-examine this market and look at its viability. There are two stores here that appear modern and to be in good locations. Selma has an available workforce and employees will return to work if the store’s open quickly.

We hope to see Burger King return to Selma.