Nearly five months after the former location on Keil Drive closed, Chatham residents now have a better idea of where Swiss Chalet could be moving to.
A sign is currently placed inside the parking lot of the Thames Lea Plaza at Grand Avenue West and Keil Drive North saying a Swiss Chalet is 'coming soon.'
According to Franchising Manager with Recipe Unlimited Corporation Kevin Winters, the proposed new location will be a free-standing pad, just shy of 4,000 square feet.
"It's going to be Swiss Chalet's newest and kind of greatest, modern design and look with all its new great equipment," Winters explained.
The proposed new location is just 1.3-kilometres from the former Chatham Swiss Chalet on Keil Drive South near Richmond Street, which closed earlier this year.
Winters said he believes the new location, surrounded by retail space, is a prime spot.
"Certainly better visibility, more accessibility and better access into the plaza," he said. "More favourable all around."
According to Winters, the timeline of when the new location would open is yet to be determined. However, he said the target opening date is expected to be sometime in 2023.
The company is currently in the process of looking for someone interested in franchising the new restaurant.
"Certainly someone who is going to be local to the market, preferably from the Chatham-Kent area or surrounding area. [They don't] necessarily need to come with restaurant experience, it's always a benefit but it's not a requirement," he said. "Someone who comes with strong business knowledge and understanding of proper operating in the full-service restaurant segment."
Winters added that he believes Chatham is a great demographic for Swiss Chalet and he is confident that with the right franchisee, the restaurant will be poised for many more years of success in the market.
Anyone interested in learning more or inquiring about the franchise opportunity can click here.