By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

“Construction, finally!” That is, according to Eric Estes President of Pratt-based Estes Enterprises, the next step in the process in bringing Qdoba to Hays.

Crews began tearing down the building that housed Discount Liquor and Mattress America on Tuesday, and Estes, the Qdoba franchise owner, said warmer temperatures have allowed crews to begin the construction process.

Estes said the new building will be a “strip center —  a Qdoba Mexican Grill Retail Plaza.” Both Discount Liquor and Mattress America are expected to return to occupy the other two spaces in the plaza.

The building will sit in the middle of the property with the restaurant facing to the north.

Estes said Long John Silver’s is going to open its parking lot to make one large parking area, and there will be parking in front of the center as well.

Once debris from the existing parking lot is pulled up and hauled away Estes said crews will run utilities to the location — and the building can go up.

“The quick part,” Estes said. “It’s the infrastructure that takes the longest.”

Estes estimated the project will take at least six months to complete, and he said he is looking at a September opening, although that schedule remains tentative.

Estes Enterprises opened a Qdoba Mexican Grill in Hutchinson in June and owns a number of fast-food restaurants in Kansas.

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