 Individual owners took advantage of the AmeriKing failure ; one of the BK regional owners , Miami @-@ based Al Cabrera , purchased 130 stores located primarily in the Chicago and the upper mid @-@ west , from the failed company for a bargain basement price of $ 16 million , or approximately 88 percent of their original value . The new company , which started out as Core Value Partners and eventually became Heartland Foods , also purchased 120 additional stores from distressed owners and completely revamped them . The resulting purchases made Mr. Cabrerra BKB 's largest minority franchisee and Heartland one of Burger King 's top franchises . By 2006 , the company was valued at over $ 150 million , and was sold to New York @-@ based GSO Capital Partners . Other purchasers included a three @-@ way group of NFL athletes Kevin Faulk , Marcus Allen and Michael Strahan who collectively purchased 17 stores in the cities of Norfolk and Richmond , Virginia ; and Cincinnati @-@ based franchisee Dave Devoy , who purchased 32 AmeriKing stores . After investing in new decor , equipment and staff retraining , many of the formerly failing stores have shown growth upwards of 20 percent . 
