Former Wendy's Restaurant for Sale or Lease | Hard-Corner Signalized Intersection | Sterling Heights, MI

An outstanding commercial real estate investment and adaptive reuse opportunity situated on a high-visibility hard corner in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Available for sale or lease, this 3,120-square-foot freestanding quick-service restaurant (QSR) sits on a generous 0.91-acre parcel at the signalized intersection of Ryan Road and 18 Mile Road. Built in 2000, this second-generation restaurant features existing drive-thru infrastructure, flexible C-2 zoning, and high daily traffic counts, making it an ideal candidate for owner-users, net-lease investors, or retail developers seeking a premier footprint in an affluent Metro Detroit submarket.

Property Specifications & Site Metrics

• Offering Type: Available for Sale or Lease

• Property Type: Freestanding Retail / Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR)

• Building Size: 3,120 Net Rentable SF

• Lot Size: 0.91 Acres (39,944 SF)

• Intersection Positioning: Signalized Hard Corner (Ryan Road & 18 Mile Road)

• Zoning: C-2 Planned Business District (Supports QSR, medical, retail, bank, or service-oriented uses)

• Year Built: 2000 (Modern, single-story retail construction)

• Tenancy Status: Vacant / Turnkey QSR Infrastructure

• Ownership Structure: Fee Simple

• Ground Lease: No

• Broker Co-Op: Yes

Turnkey Infrastructure & High-Value Reuse Potential

This second-generation Wendy's asset allows prospective buyers or tenants to bypass extensive municipal permitting and buildout delays:

• Existing Drive-Thru Infrastructure: Features pre-configured drive-thru lanes, menu board positioning, and service window capacity—an increasingly rare asset in high-barrier retail markets.

• Capital Cost Savings: Significant initial cost reduction for incoming QSR, coffee shop, fast-casual dining, medical clinic, or financial institution operators requiring drive-up utility.

• Flexible C-2 Zoning: Permits a wide array of commercial applications including retail storefronts, urgent care facilities, specialized service centers, or full redevelopment of the 0.91-acre pad.

Premier Hard-Corner Positioning & Retail Synergy

Located at the intersection of Ryan Road and 18 Mile Road, the site offers maximum visual exposure and effortless consumer access:

• Signalized Corner Visibility: Captures thousands of daily drive-by vehicles with direct sightlines from multiple directions of travel.

• Multiple Ingress / Egress Points: Smooth traffic circulation with dedicated access points on both surrounding corridors.

• Expansive Parking Field: Dedicated, high-ratio customer parking accommodating peak lunch/dinner rush volumes and employee vehicle staging.

• High-Volume National Neighbors: Located near top regional traffic anchors and national retail operators, including Kroger, Meijer, Walmart, CVS, Dollar Tree, Planet Fitness, Chase Bank, McDonald's, and Panera Bread.

• Minutes from Major Retail Hubs: Benefits from proximity to major retail corridors surrounding Lakeside Mall and surrounding regional shopping centers.

Affluent Sterling Heights Demographic Profile

Sterling Heights stands as one of Metro Detroit’s premier suburban markets, boasting strong household incomes and dense population metrics:

Surrounding Demographics Profile:

• 3-Mile Radius Population: Over 97,000 Residents

• Average Household Income: Exceeding $108,000 within 3 miles

• High Barrier to Entry: Established commercial trade area with extremely limited availability for freestanding pad sites featuring dedicated drive-thru capabilities.

Key Investment Highlights

• Freestanding 3,120 SF Second-Gen QSR on a signalized hard corner (Ryan Rd & 18 Mile Rd).

• Substantial 0.91-Acre Site with flexible C-2 zoning for retail, restaurant, or medical reuse.

• Pre-Existing Drive-Thru Infrastructure significantly accelerating opening timelines.

• Affluent Submarket Base with 97,000+ residents and $108,000+ average household incomes (3-mile radius).

• Surrounded by National Anchor Retailers driving constant cross-shopping volume.

• Available for Purchase or Lease providing flexible setup options for investors or operators.