Mary Brown's aims to open in Yellowknife by early 2016

People in Yellowknife may not have to wait very long to get their fix of post-KFC fried chicken.

Mary Brown's says a location planned for Old Airport Road could open during the first quarter of next year.

"Fingers crossed, it will be early 2016," said Shelley Berman, Mary Brown's vice president of marketing.

Mary Brown's previous Yellowknife franchise closed in 2002. Berman says the company has considered a return to Yellowknife for the last two years well before the city's popular KFC restaurant closed its doors after 47 years.

The site chosen on a lot owned by the owner of Westown Tire Service is ideal because it will allow for a drive-thru, says Scott McCarthy, Mary Brown's vice president of operations.

"All the stores we have been moving forward in the last year, we really try and get a drive-thru location," he said.

Interestingly, the former operators of the Kentucky Fried Chicken cited the KFC head office's desire for a new location with a drive-thru as one of the differences of opinion that led to the restaurant's closure.

As for who will run the new Mary Brown's, Berman didn't disclose the person's identity, but said, "He has been a resident of Yellowknife most of his adult life. He's lived there for 25 years. It's not like he's an out-of-towner coming into the city."