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AHOSKIE – Plans continue to develop that will add to the number of restaurants operating in Ahoskie.

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday of this week, the Ahoskie Town Council received an update from Zoning Administrator Corrie Harrison regarding Popeyes Chicken and a new diner, both coming to Memorial Drive.

“I received an email from the general contractor last week. They are looking to ramp things up beginning next month,” Harrison said of Popeyes Chicken.

Harrison added that the contractor of Popeyes Chicken has been reminded of the six month time frame the state has in place to have the first inspection [of the construction process] completed in order to keep the building permits active. The first permits for building and zoning were issued Nov. 4, 2024.

“The contractor has been advised that after May 4, 2025, each permit that has expired will be required to be reinstated at $60 each as outlined in the administrative fee schedule the town has in place,” Harrison told the council members.

The location of Popeyes Chicken is part of the old Charles H. Jenkins car dealership property on Memorial Drive across from Feyer Ford.

That location, formerly owned by the Town of Ahoskie, was sold in the spring of 2023 to NC Holding, LLC.

Site preparation work for the new restaurant began in November of last year.

Harrison also provided an update to a new diner at the former location of Golden Skillet on Memorial Drive. Work on the exterior of that building appears to have been completed.

“When the new owner of the property contacted us, the initial work was cosmetic work to the building’s exterior, siding/roofing, stuff that did not require a permit,” Harrison said. “But the work is now at the stage where the town needs to be involved. The owner is supposed to be providing me with the whole scope of work and coming in to complete an application for the renovations.”

Harrison said there is no timeframe as to when the work will be completed.

She added that the owner currently operates a couple of ‘mom-and-pop” diners in the Virginia Beach area.