Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 25, 1994                   TAG: 9406280097
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                                 LENGTH: Medium

I'LL HAVE AN IBM, HOLD THE MAYO

After polishing off a Whopper and fries, kids can play games on two IBM-compatible computers. Also available, but used mostly by adults, are two copiers and a fax machine.

``Instead of having an indoor playground, with the computer age I was thinking, `Why don't we have a computer playground and let the kids play on that?''' said Jay Naparlo, co-owner of the Burger King franchise.

According to Burger King spokeswoman Cindy Syracuse, the idea is Naparlo's own and did not originate from the company's headquarters in Miami. No other Virginia Burger Kings have installed the ``computer playground'' in their restaurants, she said.

Customers seem to like the idea.

``It's neat,'' said Todd Larkin, 12, of James City County as he used a keyboard to maneuver an electronic puzzle piece across a computer screen.

Taylor Eley, 5, of New Kent County called the presence of computers in a fast-food restaurant dining area ``totally strange.''

The computer area has replaced kitchen tours as the favorite attraction at children's birthday parties, employee Crystal Grogan said.

``They like the kitchen tours, but they always want to get back to the computers,'' she said.

Despite the throngs of rambunctious children wielding such computer-unfriendly substances as sodas and ketchup, there have been no spill disasters, Naparlo said.

``Most of the parents recognize you shouldn't have food near the computers,'' he said.

Some customers have become regulars at the keyboard.

Alex Hitchins, 11, of Williamsburg is allowed by his mother to spend 15 minutes at the computer after a meal. He sometimes uses passwords to continue games he started during previous visits.

On Sundays, mothers often leave their children at the Burger King to play computer games while they finish shopping, said manager Debbie Teabo.

But children aren't the only ones drawn to the computers.

Students at nearby College of William and Mary write research papers, create resumes and make party invitations on them, and business executives sometimes use them to write memos, Teabo said.

Teachers, Sunday school teachers and pastors use the copiers, employee Eric Cooprider said.

``A lot of people come in here at night to copy because it is easy and accessible,'' he said. ``The fact that it is free also attracts people.''

Staff writer Melissa Curtis contributed to this story.