July 13, 2023 – West Bend, Wi – The lot on the southeast corner of Highway 33 and 18th Avenue has been a hot topic of speculation as neighbors wonder which fast food franchise will land next. It was March 2021 when development started on Kwik Trip No. 5 in West Bend. The site, formerly home to Fleet Farm, had a love/hate relationship with the community; narrow aisles and a lack of merchandise made shoppers in West Bend pine for a new Fleet. Demolition of the old Fleet began in July 2020.
Now CBRE is looking to develop the four lots to the west of Kwik Trip No. 5.
There are rumors of a Popeyes franchise and/or Chick-fil-A. So far, sources have nothing to confirm.
It was March 2022 when WashingtonCountyInsider.com first broke the story about a possible ‘chicken fight’ in West Bend and which beloved franchise would stake a claim in the community.
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The closest Popeyes is on Good Hope Road just south of Menomonee Falls with another outlet on Burleigh Road in Wauwatosa.
Chick-fil-A already has a presence near Washington County with an outlet on County Line Road in Menomonee Falls.
Sources have confirmed Chick-fil-A has been sniffing around the West Bend area … but so far, there’s nothing to crow about.
The CBRE design does show a Scooter’s Coffee in Lot No. 3, but according to a spokesperson that is just a concept plan at this point. (… but we’ll keep an eye on it.)
The other two buildings are also deemed simply “a concept plan.”
Scooter’s Coffee definitely is moving into the Washington County, Wi area; a store opened in Hartford, WI on May 16, 2023. New stores are also planned for Onalaska, Holmen, Beloit, Paddock Lake, Mt Pleasant, Janesville, West Milwaukee, New Berlin and Fond du Lac.
The lot on Highway 33 and 18th Avenue is reportedly listed for around $3.1 million. Early indications are there are a lot of ‘issues’ with the site which neighbors could well tell you about all the underground springs in the area.
Construction costs and site costs are also affecting a lot of local developments.
A quick list of other real estate developments in Washington County, WI
- Construction has started on the new Jersey Mike’s and Qdoba on Sumner Street in Hartford. That location was formerly home to Culver’s before it burned down on September 11, 2021.
- The new Panera Bread and Chipotle, are close to being completed. The parking lot has been blacktopped and signage has been added to the facade.
- The restaurant development was approved in March 2022 and the former Shell station and its car wash were demolished in April 2022. The restaurants are on Paradise Drive just east of Parkway Drive.
- While WashingtonCountyInsider.com was first to tell you about Taco Johns in December 2021, the progress on that development is keeping everybody waiting.
- It was July 10, 2023 when the story broke about the new plus-size women’s clothing store, Torrid, moving to the Paradise Pavilion in West Bend, WI.
- 7 Brew drive-thru coffee is still planning to slide into town on the back of a flatbed trailer sometime this summer. That franchise will make its home in the parking lot in front of Hobby Lobby, 1800 S. Main Street in West Bend.
- Neighbors in West Bend can also watch for a pizza place to make a comeback in the community and new downtown will be the opening of Rogue Beauty Bar, which is finding a spot in the former home of Slesar Glass.
- If we’re talking custard… Watch for a grand opening of the new West Bend Creamery this month. The shop, 600 N. Main Street was purchased by Andy Naumann.
- Keep an eye on the old Dairy Queen on Sumner Street in Hartford, WI as there’s an effort underway to repurpose the building.
- Also in Hartford, WI the new Hatchet House is open, 75 N. Main Street.