Chicken spot Charlotte's Kitchen plans to open a new location in Altoona. Find out where:
Charlotte's Kitchen could be coming to Altoona.
The city's Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend a site plan for a new Charlotte's Kitchen at 109 Eighth St. S.E. at its meeting on Tuesday, subject to resolving some issues identified by city staff. The locally owned chicken spot — known for its sandwiches, tenders, milkshakes and array of sides — also has locations in Johnston and Indianola.
The City Council still needs to approve the site plan at a later date. Co-owner Michael Hanstad told the Des Moines Register in an email the plan is to break ground on the new location by the end of April and open in August.
The Altoona Charlotte's Kitchen restaurant would be drive-thru only due to space limitations. It also would include outdoor seating and parking spaces.
The property is currently vacant. Friends Hanstad and Robert Doan launched Charlotte's Kitchen as a food truck in 2020 before settling into a brick-and-mortar home in Johnston, 6150 Merle Hay Road, a year later.
"We picked this location because we always loved being in Altoona with our food truck," Hanstad said in the email. "The people of Altoona were always so kind and supportive of us, and we can't thank them enough for doing that when we first opened up for business."
What's on Charlotte's Kitchen's menu?
The menu includes signature shakes with flavors such as caramel, chocolate, and vanilla alongside an inventive take on crunchy-battered chicken sandwiches that includes Nashville hot chicken, orange chicken BLT, and a crab Rangoon sandwich.
Brussels sprouts, cheese curds, chicken tenders, and more round out the menu.
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More dining and restaurants are on the way on Eighth Street in Altoona
Hanstad also noted the central Altoona location is in an area in need of more food options. It would be near several banks, a Walgreens and a Scooter's and close to many residential neighborhoods.
There might, in fact, be more food options on the way: the planning commission also approved Tuesday a zoning change to allow a restaurant and cafe down the street at the former Family Video, 501 Eighth St. S.W. A developer told the commission Tuesday that there are plans to connect with national brands that could be interested in coming to the site.
Coffee and energy drink shop Hyper Energy Bar, another local chain, recently opened in Altoona. Indianola-based pasta restaurant Sauced Up also plans to open an Altoona location.
Chris Higgins covers the eastern and northern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Altoona could get a Charlotte's Kitchen, Des Moines-owned chicken spot
