New business, expansions visible around Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac is seeing a surge in construction projects.

One of the most visible is along the busy stretch of West Johnson Street in front of Forest Mall, where work is progressing on a new Panera Bread restaurant next to the new Hardee's. Excavation equipment has also appeared there at the site of a proposed Panda Express and the project is moving forward. Panda Express is touted as "Asian-inspired cuisine in a fast, casual environment."

Will Steiner, real estate developer for property on the east end of Forest Mall, has been working to make improvements and attract new businesses. Landscaping and parking lot improvements are nearly complete and a filtering area for storm water was constructed to catch debris or sediment before it enters the city storm water system.

"Panera Bread is moving forward — they are making progress pretty quickly," he said. Panera Bread restaurants feature soups, salads, pasta, sandwiches and bakery items.

Amanda Burns, who represents Panera Bread, said Thursday that the company is "targeting a December opening for this location."

Just down the street, Panda Express is beginning work on the site that has been roped off for more than a year west of Applebee's restaurant.

"They renewed their building permit recently and starting pouring foundations yesterday," said Wayne Rollin, Fond du Lac community development director.

Beth George, senior manager/public relations with Bandy Carroll Hellige, handles marketing for Simon Properties, including Forest Mall.

"We are very excited to be able to confirm that Panda Express is coming to Forest Mall," she said, adding it is anticipated that the restaurant will open in winter.

Steiner said it is disappointing that major mall tenants JC Penney and Sears are closing, but he is confident that Simon Properties will attract new tenants.

"They are working with potential tenants every day," he said. "They could do things locals couldn't do (to bring in new tenants)."

Steiner said some malls have added offices or mixed-use "lifestyle centers" with creative use of space that is different than a retail store.

"Some people have expressed concern about the mall long-term, but I don't have concerns," he said. "I think, all together, it's still a really promising shopping center."

Kwik Trip

A new Kwik Trip — the fifth in Fond du Lac — is set to open today at 158 N. Main St. It features nine gas and two diesel pumps, as well as a convenience store. A ribbon cutting for the store is planned Sept. 9.

A larger Kwik Trip being constructed at 980 S. Hickory St. e is scheduled to open Oct. 9, according to spokesperson John McHugh. There will be 11 gas and two diesel pumps, as well as compressed natural gas. The store will be accessible to semi trucks and offer free wifi.

Kwik Trip is building 35 new stores this year, said McHugh, observing that the Fox River Valley is one of its growth markets.

"Our demographic is the family who needs milk, bread, butter and eggs," he said, noting that Kwik Trip avoids larger cities and locates on major thoroughfares in suburbs and commuter destinations.

About 80 percent of food items sold — pizza, salad, sandwiches and bread — are made or processed at the company's headquarters in La Crosse. There is a banana-ripening facility, milk processing and plants that make baked goods and other items.

Because Kwik Trip avoids a "middle-man," McHugh said there are greater profits on food purchases inside the store.

Other Kwik Trips in Fond du Lac are located at 1061 E. Johnson St., 471 N. Park Ave., 456 S. Main St., and 1123 W. Johnson St.

Grande Cheese

Ground will be broken soon for new construction on Fond du Lac's south side.

Grande Cheese has submitted a site plan for a new corporate headquarters on 40 acres of land off Highway 151 on Camelot Drive and across from the Agnesian buildings. Construction is expected to begin in October.

Rollin is pleased with the activity around town.

"I think what we're seeing, part of it is pent-up demand from the recession, but we're also seeing projects going forward for next year already," the community development director said. "We feel pretty good about development prospects."

Rollin said he is encouraged by Marian College plans to relocate its School of Nursing and Health Professions to a portion of the Nielsen Building downtown and that work has begun to convert the former Retlaw Theater into offices, retail space and apartments.

"I think it will add vibrancy to the downtown area," he said of students, employees and tenants that will occupy the buildings.

• Main Street Fashions, a consignment store that sells women's clothing, jewelry and purses, opened recently at 117 S. Main St.

• Marco's Pizza, 30 E. Johnson St., is located next to Family Video and offers pizza, subs, salads and wings.

Agnesian HealthCare

A major expansion at the site of the Agnesian HealthCare Surgery Center is taking shape and work is moving forward for a new dialysis center along Camelot Drive off the Highway 151 Bypass.

The projects include a nearly 50,000-square-foot addition to the existing facility and a new building of about 50,000 square feet north of it. Completion of both — a $21 million undertaking — is anticipated by late this year.

The project is intended to consolidate all podiatry services, expand space for the Sports, Spine & Work Center and orthopedic care, centralize pain medicine services including the relocation of neurology and physiatry services, and add a pharmacy center and wound care clinic.

The second facility will house the Agnesian Health Shoppe and home oxygen services, as well as the Fond du Lac Dialysis Center.

Holiday Inn Express

Construction has begun for a four-story, 86-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites, on the grounds of the existing Holiday Inn at the intersection of Military Road and Rolling Meadows Drive.

"The foundations are in and they are starting on plumbing and electrical," said Dennis Stahmann, general manager of Holiday Inn. "I think very soon they are going to break ground on the meeting space" (a 10,400 square foot conference center addition) at the current Holiday Inn hotel.

Love's

Construction of Love's Travel Stops & Country Store has begun on the west side of Highway 41 at the Hickory Street interchange. Located at 311 W. Rolling Meadows Drive, a large truck stop/travel center is expected to open later this year. The 2.76-acre property is situated east of Merwin Oil and the Country Inn & Suites hotel.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

ReStore has moved its retail busienss to a new location at 65 W. Scott Street, east of the Fond du Lac Children's Museum. The move from its previous site at 150 S. Brooke St., took place Aug. 23. ReStore opens for business at the new location on Monday, Sept. 8. Offices will be moved to the new the Scott Street location in coming weeks.

Contact Laurie Ritger at lritger@fdlreporter.com or (920) 907-7925; Twitter: @LaurieRitger.