Jodi Schwan

Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Italian chain Fazoli’s will open next year near The Empire Mall.

The restaurant is the first to lease space in a strip mall under construction on the former TGI Fridays site. It plans to open this summer.

“We’re thrilled to bring Fazoli’s fast, fresh Italian food to Sioux Falls,” said Carl Howard, president and chief executive officer of Fazoli’s. “The expansion into South Dakota marks a major milestone for the brand. Fazoli’s has experienced 14 consecutive quarters of same-store sales results and new franchised restaurants are continuously setting company-wide records. We’re confident that our new franchisee, Brian Hagan, and his team will be successful in growing their business in the market.”

The 3,600-square-foot restaurant will feature Fazoli’s contemporary design, including a drive-through. Hagan, who is the president and an owner of Hagan Barron Intermediaries, a third-party administration company in Sioux Falls, has plans to open additional restaurants in the area over the next several years.

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“There’s an abundance of opportunity for Fazoli’s growth and success in Sioux Falls,” he said. “We’re thrilled to have found a great location for our restaurant and confident that the brand will be well received. We look forward to serving the community for many years to come.”

The first location was a good fit for its proximity to the mall and access from 41st Street and Interstate 29, said Ryan Tysdal of Lloyd Cos., who represented Hagan in the property search. The restaurant had first considered the site more than two years ago, he said, but were held up by floodplain issues that restricted construction.

Those were lifted recently by updates to FEMA’s floodplain maps.

“We looked at several location options. We knew we wanted the first location to be in the ‘mall area’ which is a challenge in and of itself,” Tysdal said. “Real estate in the 41st & Louise area is very gridlocked. It’s not often you see new space like this come available."

Fazoli’s has about 220 locations. The menu features Italian entrees, “Submarinos” sandwiches, salads and pizzas.