A modern KFC restaurant in Murphy, North Carolina. Courtesy | Creative Commons

Kentucky Fried Chicken and Marshalls will become the newest chains to add Hillsdale locations soon, but neither store has an opening date yet.

Sam Fry, marketing and economic development director for the City of Hillsdale, said the planned openings indicate the growth of the city.

“Right now, Hillsdale is experiencing significant development, particularly along the Carleton Road commercial corridor,” Fry said. “There’s real momentum building as businesses take note of the opportunities here and the investments others are making.”

There was a KFC location in Hillsdale before it closed in the 1990s when the Walgreens opened at the intersection of Carleton Road and Fayette Street. According to the Hillsdale Daily News, Fry said KFC has submitted plans for the proposed restaurant to be built on West Carleton Road. 

Marshalls plans to open by Kroger on West Carleton Road, where the department store Peebles was formerly located. 

This new growth is part of an effort by City Manager David Mackie and city staff to transform Hillsdale, Fry said. 

“Much of this began with the arrival of the Meijer supercenter — one of City Manager Mackie’s first major accomplishments after joining Hillsdale in 2015,” Fry said. “Under his leadership, city staff have taken a proactive approach to attracting and supporting new private investment. We want Hillsdale to be known as a business-friendly community where enterprise can thrive.”

The city is working to expand utility services to match the growing needs of new businesses, Fry said. 

“Along Carleton Road, with the addition of Meijer, Aldi, and soon KFC, the Hillsdale Board of Public Utilities is continuing to upgrade the electric distribution system to support both current and future development,” Fry said. “These infrastructure improvements ensure we can meet growing demand and maintain reliable services.”

The city Planning Commission will review the plans for the proposed KFC in April. There is currently no timeline for the proposed Marshalls to open. 

“It’s important for the community to understand that these projects not only bring jobs, but also expand our local tax base,” Fry said.“For a smaller city like Hillsdale, stable, moderate growth is essential to maintain a strong quality of life and to ensure the city can continue delivering the public services residents rely on.” 

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