Tops BBQ has put their expansion into Lakeland on hold.
A broker representing both the BBQ chain and the owners of the Mobil Gas Station at 3665 Canada Rd said possible changes in ownership of the restaurants have impacted Tops coming to Lakeland.
“Tops BBQ signed a letter of intent to lease the space a year ago,” said Bernard D. Farber with Executive Realty Group, Inc.
“Subsequent possible changes in the ownership of Tops BBQ have put this expansion on hold for the immediate future. They may revisit this expansion sometime in the future.”
He added that Tops deemed the expansion a good location for their 16th store.
Mr. Farber’s business, a Germantown firm of realtors, continues to look for a food establishment to occupy the empty space at the Mobil Station.
“We continue to look for a local, regional or national food establishment to occupy the space which has major exposure at the gateway to the City of Lakeland.” He said the Station owners have instructed him to continue the search.
The space formerly housed a McDonald’s which closed in September 2017 and moved to a new facility on U.S. Highway 64 in Lakeland.
