In July 2015, Famous Dave’s restaurant closed their doors. Due to the changing nature of the restaurant industry and the desire for smaller spaces, the property owner has been unable to find a new tenant for the site. Adjacent land use includes Rosati’s Pizza Pub and Wave Waterpark to the North and Chili’s restaurant to the South. A vehicle storage lot is located across Vista Village Drive to the West and the Creekwalk Park to the East.
At Tuesdays Planning Commission meeting the City staff presented to the commission plans to build a new restaurant called Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. The Famous Daves building will be leveled and the new 3,935 square foot drive-through restaurant will be built to include a parking lot and site improvements at 303 Vista Village Drive.
A presentation was given by the Vista city staff member, Michael Ressling, followed by Raising Cane’s representative, Kristen Roberts, Property Development Manager, Fry Cook and Cashier. Public input was positive except for concern of tearing down a beautiful building and the changing of the general plan to include another drive-through restaurant. The Commissioners asked about traffic challenges with going in and out of the restaurant. Raising Cane’s policy is to hire Off Duty Police Officers to control the traffic. 70% of their customers use the drive-through. Other questions were asked which were answered by staff or Raising Cane’s Kristen Roberts. A vote was taken and the voting results were:
A student from Rancho Buena Vista High School spoke to the Commissioners telling how he, his friends and classmates travel to Laguna Hills in Orange County forty minutes from Vista to eat chicken fingers, fries,Texas Toast, and drink ice tea and lemonade.
Go to Raising Cane’s website.https://www.raisingcanes.com/canes-and-your-community They believe in being part of the community and giving back to their neighbors. The next step for Raising Cane’s is to make their presentation to the City Council for their vote on October 24, 2017. Once approved, and the building is torn down, their plan is to open in 159 days from construction start date.
