Panda Express Opens New Location in East Bakersfield
By Hector Gutierrez
Panda Express opens its eighth location in Bakersfield on the southeast corner of Brundage Lane and Oswell Street.
The Panda Restaurant Group hired CRM Architects and Planners to frame and establish the new location which covers exactly 19,359 square feet of land next to Taco Bell, according to a CRM foreman.
The restaurant itself however will cover 2,280 square feet leaving the remaining area for 29 on-site parking spaces. This location will also include a drive-thru to compete with the two fast food restaurants next to it. On the other hand, this location will feature a 70 foot sign visible to Highway 58 which is something the other two restaurants lack.
This was a big issue for the city because 35 feet is the limit for that particular zone in Bakersfield. Luckily, the city granted its proposal as long as CRM constructs proper roadway along Oswell Street.
Panda Express has begun advertising for employees the first week of November and is expected to open its doors December 16th of this year.
The area is expanding after Wal-Mart opened one of its neighborhood markets just behind where the new Panda Express will be located. Considering Jack-in-the-Box and Taco Bell, Panda Express will be the third restaurant within a one mile radius of this highly populated area.
Neighborhoods to the south of Brundage Lane are expanding as well which will only create a higher demand for more businesses to accommodate to.