Habit Burger withdraws building permits for north Spokane restaurant

The Habit Burger Grill appears to have scrapped its plans to build a restaurant in north Spokane.

The company has withdrawn building permits for a restaurant at 6710 N. Division St. filed with the city of Spokane. The California-based fast-casual burger chain announced last year it was planning to open a restaurant and drive-thru on the vacant site owned by real estate developer Harlan Douglass.

Habit Burger’s expansion into Spokane was part of a nine-store development agreement with Elite Flame Grill LLC, a subsidiary of Elite Business Enterprises Inc., to continue growth in Eastern Washington and Idaho. The restaurants were expected to open this year.

The company indicated last year it was considering future restaurants in Spokane Valley and North Idaho, in addition to the north Spokane location.

Habit Burger did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Douglass also did not respond to a request for comment.

Habit Burger, which has gained a following for its made-to-order, charbroiled burgers, operates more than 265 restaurants in 12 states and six in China.

The Habit Burger, founded in Santa Barbara in 1969, has seven locations in Western Washington and three in Southern Idaho.

Habit Burger isn’t the first restaurant to announce plans to build on the vacant site.

Atlanta-based Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc., franchisor and operator of Popeyes restaurants, filed permits to build a restaurant in 2016. The permits expired in 2018 and records with the city show $2,357 in unpaid permit fees.

Maverik Inc. filed preliminary plans in August to build a gas station and a 4,425-square-foot convenience store on the site.