Site prep work has started for a new KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) on Berlin-Cross Keys Rd Gloucester Township NJ, in front of the Acme. This lot in the Gloucester Town Center was most recently a Checker’s Drive-thru Restaurant, which was previously removed.
This project was approved by the Gloucester Township Planning Board a year ago, and was reported at 42Freeway.com.
Considering there are only a few KFC restaurants in the 42freeway area this makes sense to add another, but it seems we may lose one of the existing locations. Read on for details
KFC on Cross Keys…
The new KFC will be a 2,600 Square Foot restaurant with drive-thru, and will have access within the shopping center.
Currently trucks are there clearing out the site, getting it to a smooth dirt top. This is ahead of underground utility work and foundation. While this is a great sign of the start of the project, there could be a lot of “starts and stops” as different contractors are engaged in the construction process.
We do not have artist renderings of this new KFC restaurant, but based on the square footage it appears to be the full size restaurant size that we are familiar with in this area. I mention this because recently KFC unveiled plans for more compact restaurants.
KFC’s parent company is Yum Brands, who also own Taco Bell and Pizza Hut… both of which already have a home in the same Gloucester Town Center. They must be seeing great success with their restaurants in this area!
This area of Gloucester Township and Winslow Township has seen significant growth over the last few years with Target, Lowe’s, Panera Bread, Chick-fil-A, Super Wawa in the immediate area (and more), and recently an Aldi Grocery opened across the intersection
At this time we do not have any info on expected opening date. Considering challenges in building material supplies and staffing, I don’t think any project is giving dates… especially this early in the process.
… But Leaving the Black Horse Pike?
KFC is a well known fast food restaurant but they do not have as many locations as other competitors. According to this article at Visual Capitalist, based on location KFC is #13 with 4,019 locations whereas McDonald’s has 14,036
So with that being said, while it seems every larger South Jersey town has at least one McDonald’s, there are only three KFC restaurants in our entire core 42Freeway area (Brooklawn, Pine Hill Blackwood-Clementon, Williamstown). So this should make four (wow that’s some stellar math on my part!)
But… we also reported in September 2020 that the combo Taco Bell/KFC restaurant on the Black Horse Pike in Williamstown was to be completely demolished and redeveloped as… only a Taco Bell!
Well actually this was the second approval, as the initial approval was in 2019, and the return trip for 2020 was to change the plans to a dual drive-thru.
But at this point I don’t think the project has started (it’s been a month or so since I’ve been through there! This weekend!)
There are also KFC stores in Millville, Pennsville, Maple Shade and Vineland… but it feels like there should be a KFC in the lower part of Gloucester County.
Links and Location
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)
Gloucester Town Center
525 Berlin-Cross Keys Rd
Sicklerville, NJ 08081