BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP, MI (WNEM) -
Buena Vista Township Supervisor Dwayne Parker can hardly contain his excitement over the first new development in his township in around 25 years.
The grand opening of the new Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen in B.V.
"We're really tickled pink. We're happy and we're very much excited about the new development," said Dwayne Parker, Buena Vista Township Supervisor, "This is the catalyst to our new development on this corridor."
The new Popeye's location was built right in the shadow of the old Fort Saginaw Shopping Center and B.V. officials are hoping that this will just be the spark that this community needs to begin revitalization.
"Even though it's a fast food restaurant, we see it as larger than that," Parker said, "We see it as an opportunity to hire 125 people, putting new jobs in the hands of the community."
When Popeye's owner Earl Pagues was coming up with his plan, he wasn't thinking he might be the new spark around here.
"Well I really didn't think to much about it," said Earl Pagues, "I guess I thought it was the right thing to do."
Especially after discovering people were traveling quite a distance for Popeye's Chicken.
"Come to find out a lot of people were driving down to Flint, 35 miles one-way to get chicken. So I started looking into it and this is what we have today." Pagues said.
Pagues has lived in Saginaw for a long time and he hopes his new restaurant will help.
"Other people see that, hey the business is here, it's a great place to do business. "
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