PARAGOULD, Ark. — Fast-casual restaurant chain Panda Express is set to open a new location in Paragould, taking over the building formerly occupied by Starbucks on West Kingshighway, according to Haag Brown Commercial.
The new Panda Express will be located at 2303 W. Kingshighway, though an opening date was not provided in the company's announcement. Haag Brown Commercial, a real estate development firm, stated that its executive broker, Zac Qualls, led negotiations to bring the restaurant to the location.
This property was originally home to Mitchell Funeral Home before being acquired and redeveloped by Haag Brown for commercial use. The site was previously leased to Starbucks and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Haag Brown also purchased an adjacent quick lube property to improve access to the development and its nearby intersection, which is controlled by a traffic signal.
Starbucks closed its Paragould location earlier this year, prompting Haag Brown to seek a new tenant for the building. According to the real estate company, both local and national restaurant businesses expressed interest in the space before negotiations concluded with Panda Express.
The announcement did not include a timeline for construction, nor did it offer any details about hiring for the new location.
Haag Brown provided an artist's rendering of the building based on initial designs, though the final appearance of the Paragould location may differ from the early conceptual image.