By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — Restaurant chains Panera Bread and Five Guys Burgers and Fries will be joining the lineup of eateries and businesses in the Plainsboro Village Center development, on the corner of Schalks Crossing Road and Scudders Mill Road.
The Planning Board approved Sharbell Development Corp.’s proposal to build a 10,725-square-foot building on the corner lot Monday night. The new building will be anchored by Panera Bread on the north corner and by Five Guys Burgers and Fries on the south corner.
The developer is in negotiations with the Pet Valu chain to locate a store in one of the two remaining storefronts in the building, according to Thomas F. Troy, president of the Sharbell Development Corp. The chain store offers pet food and related products.
“I think it’s a good mix of tenants,” Mr. Troy said.
The Panera Bread restaurant will occupy about 3,650 square feet, and will have indoor seating for 60 patrons plus about 30 seats on the patio. It is expected to be open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries will take up about 2,200 square feet of space. There will be seating for about 52 patrons, between the indoor and outdoor seating areas. It will likely be open from 10:30 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
The developer and the Planning Board discussed several details relating to the site plan, such as the size of the lettering on the signs as well as the type of lighting. Architectural design details also were reviewed.
Mr. Troy said the company hopes to obtain assorted construction permits for the new building next month, and to begin work in September. He said the work will be completed and the stores ready to open during the second quarter of 2016.
The Village Center development consists of nine two- and three-story commercial buildings and one three-story mixed residential and commercial building for a total of 110,000 square feet of commercial floor space. It is approved for up to 122,000 square feet of commercial development.
Village Center also includes 12 townhouses, 11 single-family homes, eight apartments and the Plainsboro Township library. Approval of the 10,725-square-foot building consumed much of the remaining 12,000 square feet of commercial floor space, effectively rounding out the development in the Plainsboro Village Center.
