You could be eating orange chicken here soon. (Source: Eau Claire Plan Commission)

The largest Asian-themed fast-food chain in the United States may soon open a location on Eau Claire’s south side.

Panda Express – which has more than 2,200 locations in the U.S. and worldwide – wants to build a 2,300-square-foot restaurant with a drive-through at 2403 London Road, at the intersection of London Road and East Clairemont Avenue.

The chain is known for American-style Chinese dishes such as grilled teriyaki chicken and honey walnut shrimp. The closest Panda Express to the Chippewa Valley is in Hudson.

A request to approve a site plan for the eatery, submitted by Panda Express and Atwell LLC, an engineering and construction firm, will be considered by the Eau Claire Plan Commission on Monday, June 15.

The 1.1-acre site in question is currently occupied by the office for Pillar Construction and was previously a medical office. According to documents submitted to the Plan Commission, the proposed building is a single-story restaurant with a single drive-through lane. The restaurant would be accessible from London Road to the west as well as Mall Drive to the east. The Panda Express parking lot would also connect to the parking lot for a proposed building just to the south: a new Associated Bank branch at 2425 London Road.

In August 2018, the Plan Commission approved a site plan for a single-story 3,600-square-foot building for Associated Bank at 2425 London Road, which was formerly home to Hancock Fabrics. (The old building has since been demolished.) Now, Kapur Inc. and Midland Commercial Development Corp. are seeking Plan Commission approval for an amended plan for a two-story, 8,500-square-foot bank building on the 2-acre site. The building would include three drive-through lanes for customer vehicles as well as a lane providing access to an ATM.

The Plan Commission will consider both site plan proposals at its 7pm meeting on Monday, June 15. (Go here for a copy of the agenda and a virtual event address.) City staff have recommended that the commission approves both proposals with a few conditions pertaining to factors such as lane widths, drainage, and sidewalk easements.

The proposed sites are outlined in blue: The smaller would be Panda Express, the larger would be Associated Bank.