By Shereen Siewert
RIB MOUNTAIN — Sorry, Wausau metro residents. Red Lobster is not planning to build a Rib Mountain restaurant anytime soon, Rib Mountain officials reiterated on Tuesday.
Wausau Pilot and Review reached out to town officials in response to a thread on the “You Know You’re From Wausau If…” Facebook page in which a resident stated unequivocally that a Red Lobster is being planned for a site across from Texas Roadhouse on Rib Mountain Drive. The post was shared more than 75 times in less than 15 hours.
Rib Mountain Community Development Director Steve Kunst said he has never seen any such plans.
“I think I’ve heard that about a thousand times,” Kunst said.
The post went on to outline plans for a Culver’s Restaurant along Frontage Road. Kunst said Culver’s in 2016 released marketing materials announcing their interest in a Rib Mountain location but to date, the company has not submitted any official documentation to the town that would indicate plans are imminent.
Kunst confirmed that plans are on track for a new 6,300-square-foot retail building that will bring a Five Guys restaurant to Rib Mountain. The three-tenant building at 1301 Starling Lane will also be home to Kay Jewelers and one other business. REI Engineering proposed the project, which will be spearheaded by Herbeck Development of Appleton.
Five Guys, with headquarters in Virginia, operates more than 1,000 restaurants including locations in Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Eau Claire.
Wausau Pilot and Review first reported on the Starling Lane development, which is expected to be complete this year, in mid-December.
