The Arkansas City Planning Commission gave its seal of approval to a deal that could bring a new Braum's to town, at its meeting Tuesday. They voted unanimously to send a recommendation to approve to the city commission.
The commission held a public hearing and sent the proposed zoning change to the city commission. The city commission may now vote on whether to approve the zoning change.
The area, in front of the hospital facing Summit, is now zoned business 1 and Residential-4, and the change would be to business 2. The B-2 zoning allows for larger stores.
Braum's already has an ice cream store and restaurant on Summit. The new one would allow for a larger grocery store, a larger restaurant and a drive-through window for customers.
City Commissioner Patrick McDonald was pleased with the result and believes it will be good for Arkansas City.
“It will give us one more thing in the downtown area for people to do. It is exciting,” he said.
At the meeting there was some concern that it could cause taxes to go up in the area, but most people were in favor of the move.
The grocery store will be 3,000 square feet, and the restaurant will be 2,000 square feet.
The restaurant company officials said the sale of the property where the new Braum's will be is contingent on city approval, and will not be done until that happens.
It could be a year before the new store is ready.
Braum's has been trying to expand in Arkansas City for a few years. Pizza Hut and Sonic have expanded operations in Arkansas City over the last couple of years.
I was in Braum's this week. A young woman filled our orders, we paid, and sat down. I watched as she filled many orders... one in which with her ungloved hands she rubbed her hair out of her face??? Then when the line slowed down, she stepped from behind the counter and stood and talked loudly enough for all to hear. She was bragging about how the charges against her wouldn't hold because they didn't read her the miranda. All the time she was standing there she was playing with her hair. At one point using a hand to scratch an itch on her face. Then she turned around and walked back behind the counter to dish up more goodies for unsuspecting customers!!!!! I asked one of the others working if I could speak to the shift manager.... guess what... she was it! No thank you!
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