Ten months after burning down, the North Shore Wendy’s restaurant will be rebuilt.

Kamloops council has approved a development permit for the new restaurant to rise. It will have the same envelope that it did as before, at 801 Fortune Drive.

“Lately we’ve been seeing some good initiatives from the development community. And this is reassuring that the Wendy’s chain believes in this area and that they’re ready to rebuild,” councillor Bill Sarai says. “So I’m looking forward to it.”

Remarkably, Wendy’s district manager Alma Porras says no staff at the North Shore location were laid off after the fire that happened on April 10.

“All the employees, pretty much, they’re still working at both locations… Sahali and Valleyview. So we’re able to get some of them to work in both locations, so we haven’t really lost anybody.”

While speaking to NL News, Porras did not disclose a specific timeline for construction, but says the rebuild is expected to start this spring.

According to the permit application that went before council last week, the Wendy’s will be just over 3,200 square feet with 68 seats and 36 parking stalls, and, like its previous footprint, will also have a drive-thru.

(Photo: Nathan Ritchie)