Panda Express Chinese Kitchen is joining Chipotle Mexican Grill at the site of the future Walmart Supercenter in World Golf Village, according to county records.
Plans filed with the county show a 2,614-square-foot of the quick Asian chain will be built near the Walmart site.
This will be the brand’s third location in St. Johns County, following the original at 1934 U.S. 1 in St. Augustine, which opened in 2012, and a second spot in Beachwalk that opened in late 2023.
The new Panda Express will sit near a proposed 2,300-square-foot Chipotle Mexican Grill, planned for a 0.81-acre site at the southeast corner of International Golf Parkway and the future St. Johns Parkway.
Permit applications show plans for parking, landscaping, and site improvements. Known for its customizable burritos and bowls, Chipotle has been targeting suburban areas for growth as part of its post-pandemic expansion strategy. It currently operates in both Beachwalk and St. Augustine.
Both restaurants are part of a larger development anchored by a planned 180,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter at 3405 International Golf Parkway. That project includes 868 parking spaces and eight outparcels slated for additional commercial use.
Another outparcel is reserved for a Chick-fil-A, based on site.
The St. Johns County Development Review Committee is scheduled to review the Panda Express and Chipotle proposals on November 5.
As the area continues to grow, residents have expressed both excitement and concern over increased traffic and the strain on local infrastructure.
