Turlock City News

Olive Garden Restaurant Plans to Open in Turlock

Details: Published: Thursday, 03 November 2011 23:02

Olive Garden's planned Turlock location next to Kohl's.

If you're a fan of Olive Garden's endless breadsticks, soups, salads and pastas, you may not have to drive as far anymore to enjoy them. The national chain filed for a Minor Discretionary Permit to expand to the Turlock area on October 27, 2011.

The new restaurant will be built in the Monte Vista Crossing shopping center next to Kohl's. The 2701 Countryside Drive location is part of the Monte Vista Crossings South development that was originally planned for a Super Walmart location until the City Council banned such super centers.

According to Steve Hale, the permit contact for Olive Garden, construction should start at some point during the winter. It will take approximately 6 months to complete the new freestanding restaurant, provided there are not issues with the permitting process. Considering the development project has already went through the entitlement process to build a mixed use retail and dining center, the project is expected to move forward.

The Turlock restaurant is expected to bring 25 jobs per shift between hosts, wait staff, and kitchen staff.

Opening is still a ways off, as the Turlock location is yet to be added to the company's coming soon list.

Olive Garden is a family of more than 750 local restaurants committed to providing every guest with a genuine Italian dining experience. Newer restaurants are styled after a farmhouse in the town of Castellina in Chianti, Tuscany, on the grounds of the Rocca delle Macie Winery. The farmhouse is home to the Riserva di Fizzano restaurant adjoining Olive Garden's Culinary Institute of Tuscany which was founded in 1999.

Olive Garden, owned by Darden Restaurants, Inc., is the world’s largest company-owned and operated full-service restaurant company. With more than 86,000 employees and more than $3 billion in annual sales, Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian casual dining segment.