KFC is set to replace a long-vacant former Pizza Hut building in Palatine, which has been criticized as an eyesore. The new KFC will feature a drive-through and will be located near the intersection of Rand and Dundee roads.
Recently, the Palatine village council approved a special use permit for the franchise restaurant at 1597 N. Rand Road. The site is part of a triangular area that also includes Einstein Bros. Bagels and Denny’s, both of which are owned by Dawn Lafreeda. Lafreeda operates Den-Tex Central Inc., which manages Denny’s.
The KFC location will be owned and operated by KBP Brands, which has committed to demolishing the existing structure entirely.
According to KBP representative Alan Okon, everything above the slab will be newly constructed. “The existing building has been there for quite a while. We know it’s an eyesore,” Okon stated during a meeting with Palatine’s planning and zoning commission. “We’re not here to renovate it. We’re here to knock it down and build something brand new.”
KBP Brands currently operates around 55 KFC locations in the Chicago area. The planning commission unanimously recommended that the village council approve the project. Ben Vyverberg, Palatine’s Director of Planning and Zoning, noted that the site has been underutilized for many years, with its last occupancy dating back to around 2020. “It’s been waiting to be redeveloped,” he added.
In addition to granting the special use permit, the council also voted to consolidate the lots on the 2.2-acre property from five to three. This redevelopment is part of ongoing efforts to revitalize the area and improve its overall appearance.
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