Chick-fil-A restaurant to open in Downey

DOWNEY - Chick-fil-A plans to open a new location in Downey and construction could start before the end of the year, city officials announced Tuesday.The restaurant is tentatively scheduled to be constructed on Firestone Boulevard, on city-owned property between Arby's and Fallas Paredes, said Brian Saeki, the city's community development director. Saeki announced the news as he updated council members on local development projects. Chick-fil-A operates more than 1,600 restaurants across much of the U.S. The restaurant is famously closed Sundays, attributable to its founder's Christian beliefs. Saeki also announced preliminary plans for a townhouse development at the northwest corner of Lakewood Boulevard and Gallatin Road. Forty-six town homes ranging in size from 1,500-2,000 square feet may be built on a storage lot previously utilized by Downey Ford. The development is still in its early stages, Saeki stressed. A commercial development is also in the works for the Downey Ford property - on the southeast corner of the same intersection - but it is too early to offer many details, Saeki said. In other news, Saeki said: *discount hardware store Harbor Freight is moving into the former Long's Drug store at Downey Landing; *plans continue for a 100,000 square foot medical office development at Paramount Boulevard and 7th Street; *the former All-American Home Center site may be redeveloped soon, although property owner Jerry Andrews has not disclosed details; *Hometown Hardware and Garden - owned and operated by former All-American Home Center executives - is renovating the interior of the former Vons building and hopes to open in time for Memorial Day; *Champion Fiat is constructing a new showroom and plans to unveil its Alfa Romeo line of cars later this year; *the Hall of Fame Market (formerly Hi Ho Market) on Downey Avenue expects to open in early May; *the Lock & Key sports bar will open in the former D'Arte store downtown and will offer "a very diverse menu"; *Wal-Mart is conducting extensive renovations as it prepares to open a grocery store at the former Alin's Party Depot on Paramount Boulevard; *construction of The View housing project downtown could start in August or September if the developer's application for federal tax credits are approved; *construction of Downey Gateway, the food court at Firestone Boulevard and Downey Avenue, is in full swing, and city officials soon plan to tour the site.

********** Published: April 26, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 02