Panda Express working to open two Springfield eateries

Fast-casual Chinese restaurant chain Panda Express is working to open two locations in Springfield in the new year.

Panda Express, a division of Rosemead, Calif.-based Panda Restaurant Group Inc., comprises more than 1,500 restaurants in 42 states, Puerto Rico and Mexico, according to PandaRG.com.

The company is remodeling the former Krispy Kreme location at 720 N. Glenstone Ave. and building a new 2,200-square-foot restaurant at 1905 E. Independence Road, in the parking lot next to Kohl’s department store.

Patrick Corbett, project manager with Columbus, Ohio-based general contractor Restaurant Specialties Inc., said both the remodeling of the former Krispy Kreme site and the new construction on East Independence should be complete by Jan. 1.

According to building permits, the Independence restaurant has an estimated construction cost of $225,500, and the remodeling job is estimated at $78,800.

Panda Express currently operates a Springfield location on the campus of Missouri State University, according to PandaExpress.com.

Panda Restaurant Group, which includes six Panda Inn and 27 Hibachi-San locations, posted revenue of $1.7 billion in 2012 and employed more than 20,000 workers companywide, according to its website.[[In-content Ad]]