Australia’s 600th and largest KFC store, at the old Palais Royale site on Hunter Street, was officially opened today.
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Newcastle lord mayor John Tate and wife Cathy joined the official opening made by Yum Restaurants Australia managing director Albert Baladi this morning.
Mr Baladi said KFC will continue to operate two restaurants in Hunter Street despite the opening and he welcomed competition between the two stores.
‘‘We’ve just spent $600,000 on the original Hunter Street restaurant in the last 12 months and the store is doing really well and increased in sales last year,’’ Mr Baladi said.
The new KFC Palais is directly across the road from the derelict Empire Hotel site and was built where the equally decaying former Palais dance hall existed.
The Palais was listed on the Hunter’s heritage register but was left to rot and was home to squatters before KFC purchased the land.
‘‘We have just invested $10 million on this restaurant and we knew the consequences in the short term and hopefully there will be longer term benefits,’’ Mr Baladi said.
