MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Jimmy Johns has officially opened in its new Grand River Avenue location in Meridian Township.

Construction on the new restaurant took about a year and a half after the developer faced issues of building in such a narrow area.

The restaurant, along with a new mattress store, replaces an old, vacant building that was on the site.

Peter Menser, Meridian Township Associate Planner, said the drive-thru was an issue and the proposed plan didn't initially meet all of the Township Board's ordinances.

One concern was making sure customers could access the store from the Meijer property so they wouldn't be forced to only use the Grand River entrance.

Menser said the developer worked well with the Township to reduce the size of the building and, after not meeting all aspects of the ordinance, went to the Zoning Board of Appeals to get the necessary variances.

Menser expects the new Jimmy Johns store to be consistently busy, much like other locations in the area.

"It's a brand that's not in our central business district now," Menser said. "They're across the street from the mall, they're adjacent to Meijer. You really can't find a better site."

The new Jimmy Johns restaurant is located at 2049 W. Grand River Ave.