New fast-casual chicken restaurant coming to Wheaton

A new fast-casual restaurant called PDQ will open its first Midwest location in Wheaton's Danada Square East shopping center next year.

The chain opened its first location in Florida in 2011 and has since expanded to more than 50 sites in eight states, mostly in the Southeast. Jeffrey Kamis, PDQ's chief marketing and public relations officer, said the company specializes in chicken tenders, sandwiches and salads that are made fresh in-house every day.

"PDQ stands for People Dedicated to Quality," he said. "That really filters throughout everything in our restaurants, from the food to the people to the guest experience."

Menu items include 100 percent all-natural chicken tenders that are never frozen, chicken salads, chicken and turkey sandwiches and hand-spun shakes.

A former IHOP restaurant that has stood vacant at 167 Danada Square East since 2014 will be demolished and replaced by the new 3,300-square-foot PDQ. The PDQ will include outdoor seating and a drive-through, where orders will be taken face-to-face and not through an intercom.

Jim Kozik, the city's director of planning, said work on the project will begin this fall. Kamis said an opening is expected in late spring or early summer 2017.

"We really love the Wheaton area," Kamis said. "One thing that is very important for us is being involved in the community. We think it's a great area to get involved in."

PDQ will continue to expand in Illinois after the Wheaton restaurant opens, with new locations planned for Schaumburg, Orland Park and Skokie.