By Susana Guerrero, SFGATE
Hayward locals will soon have the choice between Southern-style chicken tenders or a Double-Double.
Hayward’s Planning Commission unanimously approved a proposal on May 13 to debut an In-N-Out Burger and the Louisiana-based fast-food chain, Raising Cane, on the shuttered Kmart property at 26231 Mission Blvd.
In-N-Out and Raising Cane will both be developed to include drive-throughs, expected to face the Harder Rd. side of the property. A Sprouts grocery store is also joining the fast-food restaurants further down the property and located within the existing Kmart store. According to the planning commission notes, that Kmart store will be split amongst a total of nine tenants (Sprouts being one of the major occupants). The other spaces have yet to be taken up by a commercial shop.
The project will bring a series of firsts to Hayward that currently doesn’t have an In-N-Out Burger or Sprouts. Raising Cane will also be a first and among one of the growing Northern California locations expected to open soon. Raising Cane will also bring a store to Berkeley sometime in 2022.
Hayward residents who emailed the planning commission shared mixed reviews about bringing two fast-food restaurants to the area, but most were pleased about not needing to commute to nearby cities for groceries or to pick up dinner.
“So Glad to hear that Hayward Will finally have a Sprouts market!!” read one email. “We all have had to go to Dublin Sprouts for a long time and it is so crowded let alone far away from us. Also, everyone is happy to hear we will have an In and Out Burger finally!”
The Kmart store first opened in the 1970s but closed on Jan. 2020 as a number of stores closed around the Bay Area and beyond. Since January, the Kmart property had remained vacant with visible signs of deterioration.
An opening date on the new establishments has yet to be announced.