Construction starts on Zaxby’s restaurant

The foundation is laid at a planned Zaxby’s chicken restaurant and new Starbucks cafe on East Sunshine Street.

Through Z5 Properties LLC, Jason Pullman, a local Firehouse Subs franchisee, and business partner Jeff Hebbel are developing the project on a parcel of land just west of Meek's Lumber.

Pullman said construction started about a week ago at 3220 E. Sunshine St., the development site for two stand-alone buildings. The largest building, at 3,750 square feet, would house the Zaxby’s store. Pullman and Hebbel signed a franchise deal with Athens, Ga.-based Zaxby’s for five stores in the Springfield area.

“Zaxby’s is a great chain. They do very well. It’s the company we want to be with,” Pullman said, noting the restaurant chain is known for its chicken tenders and salads.

The Zaxby’s restaurant would be the first in the Queen City. Startup costs for franchisees range from $215,100 to $655,100, according to ZaxbysFranchising.com. The chain comprises over 700 restaurants, mostly in the southeast United States.

Pullman said the business partners are negotiating a lease with Starbucks for the second 2,000-square-foot building.

“I do think it will happen,” he said, noting the deal hasn’t yet closed.

Pullman is targeting an early July opening for Zaxby’s, where he plans to employ 40.

The business partners purchased the 1.7-acre site about a year ago for $990,000, Pullman said. Previously, Meek’s Lumber rented the land for about 40 years to store lumber.

Pullman opened a Firehouse Subs at 4135 S. National Ave. in 2013, followed by a store at 401 S. Kimbrough Ave. in 2014 near Missouri State University. Pullman, who in October opened a Firehouse Subs in Joplin, said he’s close to sealing a deal on the east side for a third Springfield site.