By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Steak ‘n Shake received final approval from the Corridor Design Commission during their Jan. 22 meeting.
Abe Abouhamdan, president and CEO of ABE Consulting, Inc., in Watkinsville, presented the plans to the commission.
The defunct Shell Station at 2011 Eatonton Road in front of Cracker Barrel Restaurant will be transformed into a restaurant with about 56 parking spots.
Madison Planning Director Monica Callahan said it is exciting to see redevelopment on this site.
The restaurant’s signature 1950s-1960s design will be modified to comply with Madison’s regulations: it will feature blonde brick for the top portion of the building and very dark brown brick for the bottom portion.
Red detailing will be provided by a polycarbonate material while the window frames will be architecturally appropriate aluminum.
In the original plans brought before the commission in September, the site also included a car wash. That will no longer be included.
The deletion of the car wash increases the site’s green space, according to Callahan.
Abouhamdan detailed the next steps in a later interview.
He said they will submit development plans to the city for review within the next two to two-and-a-half weeks. After that they will submit building plans. They will then demolish the existing building, remove the gas tanks, and begin building the restaurant.

Printed in the January 31, 2013 edition