An artists' impression of what a Cobb & Co could look like in Porirua.

Porirua got New Zealand's first McDonald's and it is now in line to get the Wellington region's first re-vamped Cobb & Co.

Cobb & Co's chief operating officer Nathan Bonney said Porirua was the first site identified in the region, as part of an ambitious programme to open 30 restaurants nationwide.

"We'll go through a process and it may be opened later this year," he said.

SUPPLIED The New Brew Cobb & Co restaurant/bar in Albany.

"It depends on finding the right franchisee but we know Cobb & Co is a strong brand and people love the environment to enjoy a meal."

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Bonney said it could be up to $750,000 to set up.

SUPPLIED Cobb & Co is making a comeback around the country.

There was a "blueprint" to open up to 30 restaurants around the country over the next few years - a mix of franchise and company owned.

The news comes after former mayor Nick Leggett set up a Facebook page, Bring Cobb & Co back to Porirua, to get people talking and find support for the venture.

The old McDonald's site on the corner of Cobham Court would be ideal for the family restaurant and bring people out to the city centre, Leggett said.

"I marketed [the McDonald's building] eight years and and it's still vacant," he said.

"It's never left my mind."

Leggett said he was one of the kids who was brought up eating at Cobb & Co, which was based across the road from McDonald's in Porirua until it closed in 1997.

"I loved the atmosphere and the food.

"There are other good places to eat in the city centre today, but there is a market for a good family restaurant."

Porirua Chamber of Commerce chairman Euon Murrell said anything that brought people into the city centre had to be good.

"The clientele is here and it could be very successful," he said. "It will take investment and people need to drive it."

Waitangirua's Hungry Tiki owner Jimmy Isaako said competition would benefit the city.

"It's good for people to have more choices of where to eat," he said.

Reaction on social media to Leggett's plan was mixed.

Glenis Thomas from Titahi Bay said on Kapi-Mana News' Neighbourly page that Cobb & Co was affordable to take a family for a hearty meal.

"I have some good memories of our visits there with my kids when they were younger."

However, other posts said a Lonestar would be better and Cobb & Co's food wasn't very nice.

"Porirua is chain store city and Cobb & Co's food is terrible and overpriced," said Te Rangimarie Williams on Facebook.

Originally owned by New Zealand Breweries, now Lion, the first Cobb & Co opened in 1973 with its trademark red saloon style doors.

The name originates from the Australian stagecoach company that operated a fleet of stage coaches in the late 19th century.

Cobb & Co Taupo opened in 2014 and there are plans to also open one in Dunedin this year.