Plamondon Enterprises, Inc. (PEI) has proposed the development of a Roy Rogers drive-thru restaurant to be located at 8645 Zetts Avenue (Zetts Ave. and Shady Grove Rd).
The property is a 17,287SF lot located at the corner of Zetts Avenue and Shady Grove Road. The site was previously developed with eight townhome style office/retail buildings with surface parking. All the prior improvements were demolished in 2018 due to deteriorating and unsafe conditions. The site is currently vacant and unimproved (photo below).
Roy Rogers Restaurants was started in 1968 and has been in the region for over 55 years. The chain was owned by Marriott until 1990, and based in Bethesda, Maryland. Dozens of restaurants existed in Montgomery County in the 1970’s and 1980’s, but the number of restaurants in Montgomery County and the region declined in the early 1990s after it was purchased by Hardees Restaurants. PEI bought the trade name and franchise rights to the Roy Rogers chain in 2002 from Hardees, and has been working to bring the well-recognized brand back to the area.
There are now 39 Roy Rogers restaurants, with five currently operating in Montgomery County (Burtonsville, Germantown, Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Aspen Hill). Per planning documents, PEI proposes to construct a 2,478 square foot building on the site, along with a drive- thru lane and 16 parking spaces. The design of the restaurant promotes the pedestrian and bicycle friendly requirements of the Shady Grove Sector Plan. The plan shows a 6-foot-wide sidewalk separated from Zetts Avenue by a 6-foot street buffer, along with a 3-foot screening fence/wall between the sidewalk and the drive-thru aisle. Along Shady Grove Road, a breezeway is proposed, consisting of a 6-foot street buffer, 11-foot side path, 2-foot pedestrian/bike buffer and 10-foot sidewalk.
PEI is a family owned, third generation business, based in Frederick, Maryland, that describes itself has having “a commitment to giving back to community such as schools and non-profits.” The Roy Rogers restaurant provides a “broad menu of prepared-to order quick service food including hamburgers, chicken and roast beef. Breakfast items are also served during the morning hours. The “Choose any Side” option includes french fries, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, biscuits, macaroni and cheese, and baked beans. The signature Fixin’s Bar enables guests to dress their sandwich the way they like it without the need for a special order. The modern Western decor of the restaurant is just right for family and casual dining. Roy Rogers promotes signature items like the Double R Bar Burger, the Gold Rush chicken sandwich and Roy’s Real Roast Beef sandwich at everyday value pricing.”
