By Joe Boyle
A large crowd of customers began lining up outside the new Panda Express in Oak Lawn the morning of Feb. 15 and were not disappointed when they entered the restaurant.
A major draw to the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was that the first 88 customers to enter the restaurant would receive a free Panda Express branded T-shirt.
However, Xin Qin, the regional director of operations for the latest Panda Express, 4801 W. 87th St., said that the fervor over the new eatery had been building of late.
“We are very excited to be here,” said Qin, who said Panda Express has been expanding in Chicago, the southwest suburbs, and Northwest Indiana.
Oak Lawn welcomed a Panda Express at 95th and Melvina years ago. Qin said that location is doing really well but the latest restaurant offers some different options.
“One thing you can see here is that we are very solid in this community,” Qin said. “But we have made some additions due to the last three years of the pandemic. We provide a pickup service and we have online pickup. Many people have changed their habits and we have adjusted to those needs.”
Qin also said the latest restaurant features an expanded kitchen that features two levels of food preparation to provide more efficient service. The outdoor facade has been redesigned and includes a sign at 87th and Cicero with the Panda Express image and a Village of Oak Lawn inscription just below it.
Despite cold temperatures and a blustery wind, customers waited patiently outside before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Richards High School band performed before the ceremony took place.
Qin said the new restaurant design incorporates Chinese architecture and symbols and welcomes customers as if they were walking into a Chinese home.
The Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce organized the event. Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer, Trustee Paul Mallo (3rd) and Dan Johnson, president of the Oak Lawn Park District Board of Commissioners, were also on hand.
“I am so happy that we can open this up to the community,” Qin said. “And we can pass along our traditional Chinese traditions as well.”
Vorderer was ecstatic with the new sign at 87th and Cicero. A miniature statue of a panda also greets customers to the restaurant.
“I spend a lot of time cutting ribbons at these grand openings,” Vorderer said before the ceremony. “But Panda Express has hit this out of the box. Your investment in this community is so welcome. We now have two Panda Express restaurants in Oak Lawn.”
Nancy Diaz, area coach of operations for Panda Express, greeted dignitaries and customers. She said this is a welcome addition for the village. She thanked the Richards High School Band for performing.
“It is great to have this open in my community,” Diaz said.
Natasha Miller Williams, president of the Oak Lawn Chamber, added that Panda Express has been as asset to the village. She also mentioned that 20% percent of the profits at Panda Express during the day and in the future will go to the Richards High School organization.
The Panda Express menu will feature American Chinese dishes, including the original orange chicken and the honey walnut shrimp. The new Panda Express offers family meals, Panda Cub meals, appetizers and desserts. They also provide catering.
Store hours are from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with drive-thru extended until 10 p.m. The restaurant is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday (drive-thru until 10:30 p.m.), and 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday (drive-thru until 10:30 p.m.).
As the crowd began to file in after the opening ceremony, Qin could not help but smile.
“Absolutely, this is a great community,” Qin said. “This is the newest Panda Express and will have a double drive-thru to take care of our customers. They will all be like this now.”
More information about Panda Express can be obtained by visiting Pandaexpress.com.