The Middletown Wendy’s received a bomb threat on Monday shortly after 4 p.m, store manager Phil Velasquez confirmed.

“I received the call,” he said. “[The caller] said there was a bomb threat and we had 60 seconds to get everyone out of there. I said, ‘Are you serious, because I’m going to call the police.’ Then they hung up.’”

Velasquez told customers and employees to evacuate the building and called authorities.

Middletown Police blocked off entrances to the Wendy’s, which is located on Route 35 North across from the Staples shopping center, as a K9 team searched the perimeter. Middletown police concluded their search of the building by 4:45 p.m. when employees were observed returning to the building. The parking lot entrances reopened at that time, though Middletown police remained on the scene.

The Sears Department Store and the Sears Auto Center, which share a large parking lot with the fast food restaurant, remained open during the incident.