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Royal Farms, a convenience store that boasts “world famous” chicken, is eyeing property in Norfolk. The Maryland-based chain, similar to Wawa and Sheetz, is proposing a 24-hour store with gas pumps and a car wash at 5516 Raby Road, a 3.3-acre site of a vacant Salvation Army community center. The company does not have stores in Norfolk or Virginia Beach, according to its website, though Portsmouth and Chesapeake have one location each. Royal Farms has over 160 stores. ADG Development has submitted a request to the city to rezone the property for commercial use. Though the existing building is 31,335 square feet, the plan calls for a smaller building at about 5,400 square feet. Chris Pecci, vice president of ADG, said Royal Farms is looking to expand in Hampton Roads, and the site “makes sense” for the company. The business would employ between 40 and 50 workers, according to city records submitted with the request; some would be full time. Drawings show a second 4,800-square-foot building labeled “proposed retail.” Pecci said that’s a placeholder because of the size of the lot but might not be included. The Planning Commission will have a hearing for the proposal on Sept. 22 and recommend whether to approve it. The City Council will make the final decision at a later date. |
