Left, a bulldozer from Stuczynski Trucking & Excavating Inc. breaks ground on a lot in Crossroads Commons on Monday. The lot is the future site of a Panda Express restaurant. (City-Times photo)

By Brandi Makuski

Officials from Plover say construction on a new restaurant has begun on the long-awaited arrival of Panda Express.

The 2,300 square foot restaurant will be constructed on an empty 2- acre parcel of land inside Crossroads Commons just north of the Kohl’s building and west of Starbucks.

“It’ll be a stand alone building,” said Plover Community Development Manager Richard Holden. “But there’s also room on that site for another building that could potentially have three different stores in it.”

Holden said the restaurant will have inside seating for diners as well as a drive-thru.

Construction costs for the building alone top $720,000, and Holden said local contractors will be used for the project.

Panda Express, founded in 1983 is the largest Asian fast- food chain in the United States and based in California.

Holden said no date has yet been set for the store opening.