The doors at KFC Mount Maunganui will close tonight so the fast-food business can undergo a $1.8 million extreme makeover.
Demolition of the existing building on the corner of Newton St is expected to begin this week or early next week with earthworks for the new building set to start abouta week later.
Franchisee owner Dave Rutherford said it was exciting to finally see 18 months of planning start to come to fruition.
The existing business closes at 10pm tonight and the new building is set to open again in May.
Mr Rutherford said the new building will be about 50 per cent bigger with the floor space increasing from 186 sqm to 295 sqm.
There will be more seating in the restaurant, two drive-through windows, more storage space and more carparks, increasing from 15 to 25 spaces.
Mr Rutherford employs 22 staff, two full-timers and the rest part-timers. He said some of the staff had been re-employed elsewhere, the two full-timers would be staying on the payroll to help with the makeover project and others who were yet to find work could be going on benefits.
He hoped to employ an extra eight part-timers when the new building opened.
Mr Rutherford who had owned the KFC franchise for about 19 years, and bought the land and building about 12 years ago, said there was a major fit-out to the building about nine years ago but it had always been cramped.
"When we reopen in May the new building will be bigger, brighter and have better work flows and offer better and improved services to our customers."
