What was one of UK shopping’s biggest names is to be replaced by a rapidly expanding fast food franchise in York.
Plans are in to turn the former Argos shop on Piccadilly into a chicken restaurant.
The city centre store was one of 120 Argos branches that owners Sainsbury’s didn’t reopen after Covid restrictions were lifted.
It has remained closed for three years. But now it looks set to become a Pepe’s Piri Piri fast food restaurant.
Styled as ‘the home of fresh flame-grilled chicken’, the chain has more than 170 outlets. But the nearest to York are at Leeds and Bradford.
That will change if a planning application in with City of York Council gets the go ahead. It has been submitted by Food Cottage Ltd, of Melrosegate, York
“Internally the building will be finished to a modern elegant appearance to provide a customer seating area,” says a design document.
“The overall design of the building externally will remain the same with only the replacement of the shopfront to provide a fresh welcoming appearance…
“The restaurant will help regenerate the current building and help inject money back into the community by providing jobs to locals and providing a healthy option of food.”
Pepe’s Piri Piri serves up chicken burgers, quesadillas, burritos and wings. Beefburgers and lamb burgers are also available, and sides include fries, spicy rice, onion rings and steamed mixed veg.
The Piccadilly restaurant would open from 11am to 11.30pm daily.
“The restaurant seeks to employ 12 full-time staff and five number part time staff,” the applicant states.
You can read and comment on the planning application here.