By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new Popeyes Louisiana Chicken is planned for a three-tenant building on East State Street.
Z & H Foods, a Texas-based franchisee of Popeyes, plans to build a 6,500-square-foot building at 7210 Walton St. for the future restaurants. The location is next to Texas Roadhouse and in front of Walmart along East State.
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The company is also in negotiations with a fast-casual sandwich restaurant that could fill one of the two other spaces in the building, according to Greg Sofio, construction manager for the company. That restaurant won’t be named until the agreement is finalized.
The city’s Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday supported providing a special-use permit for the company to build the drive-thru restaurant with 69 parking spaces.
The permit still needs approval from the City Council, and that vote is expected to happen on Nov. 6.
If approved, construction could start early this winter depending on the weather, Sofio said.
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The Popeyes would be in addition to the three other locations in Rockford and Loves Park.
Popeyes also has restaurants at 3622 Auburn St. and 3509 E. State St. in Rockford and at 5207 N. Second St. in Loves Park.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas