At the Thursday meeting of the Locust Town Council, the council unanimously approved an conditional permit request by James Schad for a new shopping center.

The proposed two-story shopping center would be behind the Kentucky Fried Chicken at the corner of James Avenue and Browns Hill Road, including two stories of commercial storefronts and an outdoor atrium connecting the two upper floors in the middle.

Schad spoke at a public hearing conducted during the council meeting about the new shopping center.

“The whole time (the Schads) have been doing business in Locust, they are responsible for a number of incredible projects, and I think this one is going to be a really nice addition to it,” City Manager Cesar Correa said.

Schad said he thought it was a good time to build another shopping center because he constantly gets calls at West Main Plaza about retail space.

The atrium and outdoor seating area, he added, would be a good spot for some more restaurants.

Schad said his favorite thing was landscaping, and the new center would have it as well.

He said he hopes to start construction on the site by the spring of 2024, with completion between six and nine months later.