A brand new Panda Express has just broken ground for a new location in Marlton.
Panda Express is an exceptionally popular chain of fast food Chinese restaurants. Founded in 1983 in Glendale California, owners Andrew and Peggy Cherng have spent the past 40 years transforming their brand into one of America’s best known Chinese food empires. Today, the chain boasts over 2,200 restaurants worldwide, and employees an estimated 40,000 people.
Last May, plans were drawn up to develop a brand new location in Marlton. Located next to the Target on Route 73, the new Panda Express was scheduled to open up between the new PDQ chicken restaurant and the recently shuttered Ocean First Bank. While the proposal was ultimately approved, some locals raised objections about the potential traffic challenges incurred by the planned drive-through lanes. Both Panda Express and PDQ were developed with plans for a drive-through lane, and some residents challenged the need to have two drive-through restaurants right next to each other. Making a compromise with the community, Panda Express agreed to change the drive-through’s two-way aisle to one-way, in order to address local concerns about traffic flow.
Now, according to an update from A View From Evesham, construction has finally begun on the long-awaited project. The space was originally intended to house the brunch and lunch restaurant chain First Watch, but they have since scrapped those plans since their original proposal. The new Panda Express is expected to feature about 2,425 square feet of space, with business split among dine-in (50%), drive-through (30%) and take-out (20%). While the nearby PDQ has launched to great success, Panda Express has faced some delays in its development and is just now initiating construction. Panda Express currently operates a few locations near the neighborhood, including one in Vorhees and another in Cherry Hill. For information on all new panda express locations, you can learn more on the company’s website.
