Blog: Company puts stop to P.F. Chang’s rumor

Last edited 10:03 a.m., Sept. 10, 2015

The rumor mill is always churning, and we seek to investigate tips to see if they bear fruit.

This time, the tip was that P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Inc. - a long-wanted restaurant by Springfieldians - or its subsidiary, Pei Wei Asian Diner, was scouting out land for a location in south Springfield.

A company official says no dice.

“We do not currently have any new Pei Wei restaurants in Springfield, Missouri, on our development schedule,” spokeswoman Allison Schulder said via email, noting no P.F. Chang’s restaurants are planned “at this time.”

The tip indicated a P.F. Chang’s representative visited Springfield to explore the James River Commons area, specifically undeveloped property in front of Academy Sports.

Ron Stenger Cos. developer Stu Stenger, a development partner in James River Commons that also houses a Wal-Mart store, said he wasn’t aware of any such plans by Pei Wei.

“That is news to me,” he said in a voicemail. He later added he wasn't aware of any P.F. Chang's representatives visiting Springfield to shop locations.

We’ll keep our ears to the ground on any future P.F. Chang’s or Pei Wei developments.

In the meantime, perhaps the nearby Ocean Zen is the way to go for south-side Asian cuisine.