Panda Express held a grand opening Monday morning, Dec. 1, for its new Coon Rapids location at 3465 124th Avenue, opening on the site formerly occupied by White Castle.
The previous fast-food restaurant closed after 26 years of operation, with a sign announcing it had “permanently closed.”
According to a press release, Panda Express launched its opening with a 9:30 a.m. community celebration. The first 88 guests in line received a special gift, and 40 panda headbands were distributed to guests under 18. The event included a ribbon cutting with the local chamber of commerce and a $1,000 donation to the ACBC emergency food shelf.
“Our entire Panda team is grateful to serve the Coon Rapids community by providing nearly 40 new jobs and supporting local organizations through various fundraising opportunities,” Panda Express Area Coach of Operations Boris VillaBarros said. “We hope to be a lasting part of the community, and welcome all guests into our doors to try our American Chinese favorites and discover their own.”
The restaurant is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.