2009.10.30
Bojangles' going up
In the journalism world, we report what we know, even in cases when there is little information to share.
Many readers have asked me about the status of Bojangles', a fast food restaurant that's under construction at the corner of Colonial and Brambleton avenues in Southwest Roanoke County.
The owner of this Bojangles' franchise, Stan Seymour, has not returned my calls to him in the past month for status updates on this new restaurant.
So, I'll report to you what I know. It's obvious that construction is moving along at this site, from looking at the photo to the left. This new fast food restaurant will measure 3,800 square feet, and it will have a drive-through. This will be the fifth area Bojangles' franchise for Seymour. Last year, he opened a Bojangles' on Peters Creek Road.
I don't yet know the projected opening date for this restaurant, as well as additional details, such as whether there will be another business near Bojangles'. Seymour owns the land, and he told me that the site is large enough to fit another business, such as a bank branch.
Now, it's your turn. If you've heard any news about this new Bojangles', let us know what you know.
I thought I read that the Bojangles plan was killed and the construction was actually a church or youth center or something other than a Bojangles. Can you verify what is actually going up in that spot?
Comment by Les — October 30, 2009 @ 1:39 pm
I don't have any news about the new location, but the Bojangles in Daleville ran out of chicken this past Sunday.... I had never been to a chicken franchise that ran out of chicken and found this somewhat odd.
Comment by Di — October 30, 2009 @ 2:20 pm
Well, unless the photo was taken somewhere else, I guess you're wrong Les.
Comment by Tim Felter — October 31, 2009 @ 3:18 pm
I talked to one of the employees at the Salem location yesterday and she told me that they are planning on opening around Thanksgiving week but that wasn't definite. Any delays could push it to December, I assume she meant weather delays. I will give it a try when it opens but my family really likes the employees at the Salem location.
Comment by Alan — November 1, 2009 @ 9:21 am
Les, those are most definitely bojangle colors so therefore it must be a bojangles
Comment by Tam — November 1, 2009 @ 10:20 am
Les,
This is the future site of Bojangles', based on my conversations with the franchise owner.
Comment by Jenny Kincaid Boone — November 1, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
Alan,
Thanks for the update!
Comment by Jenny Kincaid Boone — November 1, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
Yep, drove by and it is definitely a Bojangles. I swear I had read somewhere that the local neighborhood had killed the project due to traffic and other concerns. Oh well, more biscuits and dirty rice for me!
Comment by Les — November 2, 2009 @ 9:33 am
Yes, some in the community did try to block the new Bojangles. Personally, this is a prayer answered. Now we have at least five places in SW County where fried chicken can be purchased. It's good to have that many options for fried chicken, isn't it? So what if you get more traffic congestion, litter and sprawl. Maybe one day we can follow a neon trail of fast food lights up Bent Mountain. However, if we don't want this restaurant in this location or in our back yards, then we will each choose not to be a customer. A business doesn't stay where there is no support. The real story will be in the coming months and whether or not there is a line of cars stretching around the parking lot where each waits to purchase fried goodness. I hope that once they open, Larry Bly reviews the crab cake and tells us all how it is.
Comment by ByRonco — November 6, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
I may be the only one that remembers but Bojangles occupied the building that is now KFC on 419 near Tanglewood Auto Wash back in the early 80's. Who would have thought Bojangles would return to SW Roanoke county all these years later!
That is some good chicken there!
Comment by Brian — November 9, 2009 @ 1:03 am
ByRonco, if we all had that attitude we would have only one general store right in the center of town, and maybe a diner. Fortunately Bojangles isn't dependent on a half dozen people in the neighborhood to sustain their business. I believe they will do quite well at that location. I am looking forward to their breakfast biscuits and fried sweet potato pies. Yep, I said FRIED, yummy stuff.
Now if they would only build a super Walmart across the street from the new Bojangles!
Comment by RJ — November 9, 2009 @ 10:27 am
Brian I remember that location too. I think they were also on 460 and King street too. Funny most of the old locations were turned into KFC. There was another one some where but I forget. The only one not turned into something no right away was the one in SE. That one stayed boarded up for years and years. It finally reopened as a restaurant about 20 years later. but that didn't last long. It's now a used car lot.
Comment by Mike D — November 9, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
ByRonco I don't live anywhere near that store but I'll make sure to stop in there every time I'm over that way. I wouldn't want you to lose this great store because of lack of sales. It always cracks me up when people buy houses in neighborhoods next to major roads and then get mad when businesses actually open on those roads. It's like the good folks who live behind PH High School not wanting school activities to take place there. Silly people need to think before you buy your house.
Comment by Original Greg — November 9, 2009 @ 10:09 pm
I can't wait to add to my 350lb. girth with all this delicious fried goodness!!!!
Comment by Tubby tuna — November 10, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
RJ, Love your reply comment to ByRonco!!!! Well said. My husband and I also are so looking forward to BoJ's opening up in Cave Spring. Been a long time coming & I also think they will do very well there.
Comment by Pam — November 12, 2009 @ 12:01 pm