Huey's is headed to Millington.
The Memphis-based restaurant chain plans to start building its ninth restaurant by Dec. 17 and open by mid-April at 8570 U.S. 51 N., in the new Shops of Millington Farms.
"We have looked at Millington for several years and felt like now the time is right,'' Lauren McHugh Robinson, chief executive and president of Huey's Restaurants, said Friday.
The restaurant will be on an out-parcel of a 125,000-square-foot retail center being developed by Gil Ryan just north of Lowe's.
"Gil Ryan is developing a really nice center there in a great location,'' Robinson said. "The surrounding areas of Covington, Munford and Atoka have all grown and we hope to benefit from those areas. We also felt comfortable that Millington would not cannibalize any of our other locations,'' she said.
Huey's applied for a building permit on Thursday. The document values the construction at $1 million. Bids from four contractors are due Dec. 1.
"Certainly we have been monitoring Millington for a number of years,'' said Steve Levy of Levy Commercial Realty, the broker representing Huey's. He described Millington as the "gateway'' into Tipton County.
The restaurant will employ about 60 people. The general manager will be Hollis Ranson, who has worked for Huey's eight years, most recently as general manager of the Southaven and Collierville restaurants.