Zankou Chicken, the wildly popular, family held Mediterranean and Armenian restaurant chain, will open a location in Santa Clarita in the Fall of 2017.  First announcing the opening on the company’s Facebook Page (click for link), the plans were confirmed to eatSCV by Vartkes Iskenderian, one of the co-owners and partners of Zankou Enterprises.

“People of Santa Clarita, we heard your requests loud and clear (thank you for the love), and we can’t wait to serve you!” the Facebook post reads in part.  Iskenderian echoed the sentiment saying that people in the Santa Clarita Valley adding that many went “above and beyond” to demonstrate their commitment to the small chain.

Zankou will be part of a continuing renovation for the River Oaks Shopping Center at the corner of McBean Parkway and Magic Mountain Parkway.  Iskenderian confirmed that Zankou will hold the corner spot in a building that the property owners will be building new on the site of the former Pier One Imports.  He also indicated that another eatery will be taking up residence with them in that building as well.

“It’s a perfect location for us” Iskenderian said when talking about River Oaks Shopping Center.  “We’ll have plenty of parking, and be close to the offices in the Town Center area, as well as the Industrial Center.”

“We think it’s a great place for people to stop in on their way home.”

Construction is projected to begin soon with the demolition of the old structure and the construction of the new building completed sometime in the mid to late summer of 2017, and then Zankou will step in to build out their restaurant with an eye on opening in October or November, according to Iskendarian.

Note: An earlier post identified the shopping center as being the “River View” shopping center, and the previous store as Cost Plus World Market.