Panda Express, Culver's plan new I.C. restaurants

Panda Express wants to build a stand-alone restaurant in Iowa City, its first in the Corridor.

The Asian casual restaurant chain is seeking a variance from the Iowa City Board of Adjustment at its meeting Wednesday, August 10, for a drive-through as part of a new restaurant at the former Walmart location on Highway 1 West, which the discount chain recently replaced with a larger store nearby.

The plans call for Panda Restaurant Group of Walnut Creek, Calif., to construct a 2,448 square foot restaurant building with 50 parking spaces . The fast-growing chain owned by Andrew and Peggy Cherng has 1,369 restaurants, most of them Panda Express. They include food court locations at Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville and Lindala Mall in Cedar Rapids.

The restaurants specialize in traditional wok-cooked Chinese dishes and side dishes in a fast casual concept.

Panda Express needs only a special exception to allow the drive-through portion of the restaurant. A staff report does not include any major concerns with the company's site plan.

The city recently granted approval for a drive-through request to build a Dairy Queen restaurant on adjacent property to the east.

The board will also consider a drive-through request from McCon Building Corp. of Highland, Wisc., for a Culver's Restaurant at 710 Highway 1 west, just west of First American Bank.

The Wisconsin-based fast food chain is known for its trademark Butterburgers and old-fashioned custard. It has Corridor locations in Coralville, Marion, Hiawtha and Cedar Rapids.

Plans call for a 3,954-square-foot restaurant with 51 parking spaces.