Panda Express, the largest American-style Chinese restaurant in the country, is working on a new location in Concord at 450 Sportsman Dr.
The company is hoping to open the new 2,600-square-foot site on a vacant plot of land near the Afton Ridge Shopping Mall, according to a recently submitted trade permit application for a new commercial building. If approved, Panda Express will move into an area full of fast food options, including McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and Starbucks. While there are plenty of food options in the area, the company will only have to compete with Asian Cafe within the shopping district.
Panda Express had a massive year last year, celebrating its 40th anniversary and introducing new menu items and a nationwide loyalty program. To celebrate this milestone, the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in the U.S. introduced the limited-time-only Apple Pie Roll and announced the launch of Panda Rewards. These new features helped grow the brand even more in popularity, allowing customers to utilize a personalized points-based system that rewards members with ten Panda Points for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases. Once 200 Panda Points have been accumulated, guests can start redeeming their favorite Panda menu items.
“Sharing good fortune is an important value at Panda, and we are delighted to launch our first rewards program nationwide as a heartfelt expression of gratitude towards our loyal guests for their continued support throughout the years,” Andrea Cherng, Chief Brand Officer at Panda Express, said in a press release. “We look forward to engaging our guests in a playful and meaningful journey of good fortune as they collect unique prizes offering exceptional value every time they dine at Panda.”
