KENT, Wash. — Over two years after first announcing expansion into the region, a franchisee for a California-based "fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain" has acquired property for its first King County location.
A building in Kent was purchased in early November for $2.6 million by NW Pollo Loco LLC, per King County property records. NW Pollo Loco is believed to be affiliated with El Pollo Loco, which has nearly 500 locations across seven U.S. states.
In an August 2022 release, the company said it signed a deal with local franchisee Jean-Paul Pirio for four locations in the Seattle metro area. At the time, Kent was among the cities El Pollo Loco was targeting, along with Federal Way, Tacoma and Puyallup.
“Jean-Paul is an experienced restaurateur and we’re honored to partner with such an inspiring and well-known individual in the Seattle community,” says Brian Carmichall, who was then El Pollo Loco’s Chief Development Officer, in the 2022 press release. “El Pollo Loco’s proven business model paired with the industry know-how of a seasoned pro like Jean-Paul is a winning combination, and we’re confident his locations will thrive."
The 2022 release also said the western Washington restaurants will feature a new "prototype design" of El Pollo Loco that will feature "a dining room that potentially opens up to a patio area, as well as a drive-thru and designated curbside pick-up parking."
El Pollo Loco is known for chicken that is marinated daily in house with a "proprietary recipe of citrus, garlic and spice, fire-grilled over an open flame and hand-cut to order."
The building at 10120 SE 256th Street previously was home to a Verizon store and a Schlotzky's.