UPDATE: Plans for New Pizza Ranch Approved by City Council

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The Apple Valley City Council on Thursday unanimously approved plans to build a new Pizza Ranch franchise northeast of 157th Street West and Pilot Knob Road, in the Cobblestone Lake commercial development.

Operating partner Dan Peterson estimated a Nov. 1 opening date for the restaurant, which would be nearly 7,000 square feet on 1.4 acres, and seat 252 people at a time.

Mapping of this site also would create a 7,125-square-foot retail space just to the east, to be developed later.

Peterson said the company will hire about 110 people for the restaurant's opening.

Councilmember Tom Goodwin said the Pizza Ranch locations he's seen in other Minnesota towns are "booming."

The restaurant could "open up a lot of eyes to that side of the community" and draw other businesses to that area, councilmember John Bergman said.

Pizza Ranch offers pizza and chicken, as well as a buffet of many items. Many Pizza Ranch locations also offer some gluten-free items, according to its website.

The 30-year-old brand has 25 locations in Minnesota, including restaurants in Lakeville and Shakopee in the metro area. Pizza Ranch , and it's now the seventh-busiest Pizza Ranch of about 170 total, Peterson said.

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