Sleep Outfitters to Fill Kent Road KFC Vacancy
Sleep Outfitters is asking to add onto the former KFC building.
City Council will vote tonight to allow Sleep Outfitters to move into and expand on the former KFC building on Kent Road, according to Planning Director Rob Kurtz.
Sleep Outfitters is a mattress gallery.
A settlement between KFC Corp. and a franchise owner in the area shut the fast food restaurants down in April 2012.
Kurtz said Sleep Outfitters wants to add a 1,200-square foot addition so the building would be 3,900 square feet total. Proprietors have agreed to re-paint the outside, repair the bridge walls and install awings.
The only other change will be the elimination of six parking spaces, Kurtz said.
"In 2010, KFC sued Rao’s Hospitality, Gita Rao and Ganesh Rao Ponneri, alleging copyright infringement and breach of contract. KFC said the franchise failed to pay about $175,000 in royalties and advertising fees," according to an Akron Beacon Journal story.
In March, Rao's Hospitality and KFC Corp. received a settlement in U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the restaurants were ordered to close by May 31, 2012 at midnight.
City Council will vote to approve site plans for the building at tonight's 7 p.m. council meeting.
Are you happy about this change? What did you want to see fill the space?
Kat
11:19 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Any business that will bring longterm employment and help make the stow economy grow should be welcomed. I think its a great idea. They should remember tho to keep their prices reasonable.. Most of stow has a higher income base then other areas.. but were still no Hudson. lol
Chris Butts
11:30 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I just wish something would be done soon with Stow Kent Shopping Center. What an eye sore and waste of space.
Brian N
11:45 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Too bad Popeye's is not interested. Their chicken is 500x better than KFC. The nearest one I can think of is in Macedonia, and that's a bit of a drive for fast food.
Teri Ashley
12:07 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I agree with Chris I think before they work anywhere else the should do something with the Stow Kent Shopping Center. I remember all the store that used to be in there when I was a kid I loved walking up there and shopping now I look at it and say why is it still there with nothing in it.
Frank Guernsey
1:34 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Mattress Store?!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, so is there going to be a homeless guy on the corner holding a Mattress Discount Sign like everywhere else?
James Thomas
1:39 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Sounds like a perfect match to me!! Especially if KFC left all the feathers.
JIM STARKEY
8:43 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
Can anyone tell me what is Sleep Outfitters? I honestly don't think I have ever heard of it.
Debbie S.
12:07 am on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Google can tell you. http://www.sleepoutfitters.com/