Bo Berry biscuits and sweet tea at Bojangles are still more than a year away for North Lakeland’s connoisseurs of Southern-style Cajun-seasoned chicken dishes.
During the summer of 2027, a Bojangles restaurant is anticipated to open along U.S. 98 near Daughtery Road where a Charley’s Cheesesteaks most recently closed.
Even longer ago in restaurant lore, a sit-down, red-trapezoidal-roofed Pizza Hut restaurant with waitresses served North Lakeland pizza lovers.
City and Bojangles confirm restaurant is coming
“At this time, we can confirm that this location is slated to open mid-2027,” a Bojangles spokeswoman said in a May 28 email to a Ledger reporter.
In front of a Walmart, the vacant building is at 5750 U.S. 98 N. It has an existing drive-thru, patio seating and most of the renovations are expected to occur inside as well as new exterior cladding so the core of the building is not expected to be torn down.
The Bojangles project team has not pulled any permits so far, according to a check with the city of Lakeland. However, project representatives met about two months ago with the city’s Development Review Team.
Bojangles is famous for made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuits and boldly spiced, hand-breaded fried chicken, its website said. The fast food restaurant also offers breakfast items.
Bojangles is in an accelerated expansion phase
The North Lakeland Bojangles will follow another Polk County location that opened in Haines City July 29.
At the time, the Haines City location was the only one in Polk County at 40235 U.S. 27 (which has a Davenport address). The next closest Bojangles are in Poinciana, Kissimmee and Clermont.
Twice before, Bojangles has opened restaurants in Polk County dating back to the 1980s, public records show. Those locations were in Winter Haven and Lakeland and have been closed for years,
In the summer of 2023, the North Carolina-based chain founded in 1977 “unveiled a refreshed growth strategy,” according to the QSR trade magazine.
Since starting its expansion in 2022 with 773 location, Bojangles currently has 883 U.S. locations up from 825 at the start of 2025, according to ScrapeHero.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Bojangles plans to open a second Polk location. Here’s where and when
Reporting by Paul Nutcher, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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