A new Wendy's is being constructed to match the neighboring Clear Creek Church of Christ in Hixson.The roof tower on the Wendy's being erected in the 5600 block of Hixson Pike is not, in fact, a steeple.
But the fact that it matches a roofline on the Clear Creek Church of Christ behind it and its two-tone brickwork is similar to the adjacent Bi-Lo grocery is no coincidence.
"We did that ourselves," said franchisee Jim Patton, who owns nine area Wendy's restaurants. "We looked at the site, at the situation, and wanted to match the [other buildings]. To us, it was the thing to do."
He did not disclose the price of the 1-acre investment but said he would spend an extra $50,000 to match the buildings.
In 2001, the then-Hixson Church of Christ bought 110 acres on Hixson Pike and, several years later, sold part of its property to Bi-Lo for a new superstore. Bi-Lo opened in 2008, and the congregation, now renamed Clear Creek, moved into its new building a few months later.
Earlier this year, the church sold an acre to Patton, who had eyed the site for a couple of years.
"The pricing [of property previously] kept us out of the market," he said. "Now we're in the process of developing three new stores."
Patton said he had bought a Wendy's restaurant on Hixson Pike four years ago and shut it down with the idea of opening a new one in or around the area where the new building is being erected.
"You want to locate near a high school, if you can," he said. "We're near a school" -- Hixson -- "and a [grocery] shopping center. It appears to be an extremely nice area to be in. We're proud to be there."
Lannie McNabb, a commercial Realtor and member of Clear Creek Church of Christ, said the church realized early on it didn't need all the road frontage it had purchased.
"We thought we could put something that looks good there," he said, "and get money for construction [of the new church building].
Jake Hendrix, business manager of the church, said selling the initial property to Bi-Lo helped the congregation achieve its goals.
"It helped us pull down our church debt," he said, "and it helped our cash flow to do more ministry in the community."
There were no stipulations on either Bi-Lo or Wendy's to match the church's exterior, according to Hendrix, but neither buyer was chosen simply because it made an offer.
With Wendy's, he said, "one goal everybody had ... was [that] selling that piece of property was adding value to the neighborhood. It is a quality franchise that helps orphans [through its Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption]. Those kind of things were taken into consideration."
The transaction and building phases have gone smoothly throughout, officials said.
"There's been a very great cooperative effort among all three [parties]," McNabb said.
Bi-Lo, he said, had no issue with what business was built in front of it.
"There's a great arrangement there," McNabb said.
Patton said he did work with Bi-Lo officials to make a few adjustments, such as a wider entrance off Hixson Pike.
"We've had total cooperation out of Bi-Lo and the church," he said. "They've gone out of their way to get us into the community."
McNabb said the restaurant's erection may be a glimmer the local economy is improving.
"[It shows] there's new money coming into the town, that the picture is brighter [than what is often portrayed]."
Patton said the local economy actually has helped his company's bottom line.
"Land prices ... have come more into our range. And the cost of building is down because a lot of people are out of work [and glad to get work at certain wages]," he said.
"I see it as a time to expand. To tell you the truth, we're taking advantage of the [economic] situation."
The Wendy's restaurant is expected to open the second week of December.
"We're excited for it to be open," said Hendrix. "We're anxious to go get some Frosties."