Olive Garden Restaurant Coming to Chesterfield

A popular restaurant has cooked up plans to serve Chesterfield Township patrons.

Olive Garden is expected to break ground in spring in a plaza on Gratiot near 23 Mile Road, township Planning Director Janice Giese said Thursday.

"There's an Olive Garden coming in front of ," Giese said, adding township officials are excited about the project. "They're building a new building up in front of the parking lot. They are through (Chesterfield Township) Planning Commission approval and they're in engineering now."

The restaurant chain that owns Olive Garden had long eyed that specific section of the township for business. At one point, a Chili's Bar and Grill was interested in opening in front of the , Giese said.

When that never came to fruition, township officials continued to pursue the national chain, eventually attracting Olive Garden.

Meanwhile, Kohl's in Chesterfield Township is expected to start a $1.4-million interior and exterior renovation project in March, township Building Director Shawn Shortt said Thursday. 

New flooring, dressing rooms and facade improvements will be part of the project that is expected to be done in phases, as not to disrupt shopping, Shortt said.

What do you think of plans for an Olive Garden in town?