P.F. Chang's, Raising Cane's, Cava & Drake's plan restaurants at Clari Park development

Murfreesboro will be adding its first P.F. Chang's, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, Drakes and Cava restaurants at Clari Park development off Interstate 24.

The planned dining businesses will join other restaurants that are a part of the 78-acre Clari Park residential and commercial development by Hines along the fast-growing Medical Center Parkway in the city's Gateway area.

The P.F. Chang's is part of an international chain of restaurants known for Asian food. The location in Murfreesboro will be at Honey Locust Lane and Roby Corlew Lane near where Clari Park is building 300 apartments, 38 single family detached homes, and a range of 182 to 282 townhouses. Clari Park also includes a soon-to-open Main Event entertainment business with bowling.

The restaurants at the Clari Park development won approval from a Murfreesboro Planning Commission that includes elected City Council member Shawn Wright.

"It’s great to have all these new businesses and new places to eat in town, and it creates a lot of good places to break bread with people," Wright said.

Fellow Planning Commission and City Council member Jami Averwater said she's pleased with what Clari Park is offering Murfreesboro.

"It's obvious that that development is going to bring a lot of jobs and an excitement to the area," Averwater said. "There's a lot of good restaurants to come. There's a lot of family fun areas to come, and I think it's a great addition to our community."

What's ahead for Clari Park? Mixed-use development offers place 'to live, work and play'

P.F. Chang's has 3 other Tennessee locations

P.F. Chang's has restaurants listed on its website in two other Middle Tennessee cities, Nashville and Franklin, as well as one in Chattanooga.

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, P.F. Chang's was founded in 1993. The chain used to have an affiliation with Pei Wei Asian Diner, which previously had a location in Murfreesboro before closing. The former Pei Wei space is now operated by Maple Street Biscuit Company on the southside of Medical Center Parkway about two blocks east of North Thompson Lane.

Cava offers Mediterranean fast-casual dining at two locations in Nashville and one in Franklin.

Drake's is a Kentucky based restaurant chain known for offering burgers, steaks, sushi and beer, including many local brews. The planned Murfreesboro restaurant will provide a large outdoor dining patio adjacent to the Clari Park's community green for residents.

Drake's has internet listings for Tennessee locations in Franklin, Clarksville, Cookeville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Bristol.

The Raising Cane's carry out chicken restaurant will be the second in Rutherford County followed by one off Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna.

Smyrna's development: Fast-growing Sam Ridley Parkway attracts 1,283 apartments and Whataburger

Planned restaurants join existing one: 'It's packed all the time'

Clari Park also will be adding Murfreesboro's second Whataburber being built by Rooms on Medical Center Parkway. The fast-food chain opened a Whataburger off the city's Old Fort Parkway and one near the Raising Cane's off Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna.

The Clari Park development has already opened a Firebirds Wood Fired Grill by a traffic signal on Medical Center Parkway across from The Avenue Murfreesboro shopping center. The restaurant chain that's based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is known for providing a lodge-like atmosphere, and serves hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood seared on wood fired grill. The wood comes from local hickory, oak or pecan trees, according to a Clari Park press release.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill has impressed Councilman Wright.

"It's packed all the time," Wright said. "It's pricy, but it's good."

Road plans: City growth, business prosperity in Gateway leads to widening of Medical Center Parkway

Main Event promotes business with bowling pins search

In addition to the restaurants at Clari Park, the development's Main Event business that includes bowling with advanced technology, other entertainment and food and beverages from "Family Kitchen" expects to open its entertainment business by Feb. 7 and employ 160 people, according to a press release from Joy Puder.

The Main Event will be the 59th to open nationally and third in Tennessee in addition to locations in Knoxville and Memphis. The Murfreesboro location will be at 1510 Greshampark Drive that's behind the McDonald's off Medical Center Parkway, according to the press release.

To promote the opening of Main Event, the business is challenging people to find bowling pins.

"Clues to where the lost pins may be can be found at https://www.mainevent.com/murfreesboro-lost-pins each day beginning Wednesday, January 24, through Friday, February 2," the press release said.

The promotional Main Event website offers the following description:

"10 pins have been lost around the city and we need help finding them. Check back daily for new clues regarding their whereabouts. Find one of the pins and win an invite to our VIP Opening Party and free games for one year! Find the Golden Pin and win Main Event for life!"

In addition to bowling, Main Event is promoting laser tag with the following announcement:

"On Friday, February 9, the first 200 guests in line will win one year of free laser tag at Main Event Murfreesboro. Doors open at 12 p.m.," the press release said.

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Clari Park touts linear park connecting residents to Drake's restaurant

Clari Park is also promoting other parts of the development.

"The multi-tenant building under construction along Medical Center Parkway will be home to Cava, My Eye Doctor and Carhartt – opening in 2024 and being developed by GBT Realty," said Greg Michaels, a spokesman for the Clari Park development by Hines.

Hines is developing a community pocket park adjacent to Drake’s, which will connect into Clari Park’s linear park system and will serve as Clari Park’s central gathering space, Michaels said.

The park will include a small covered stage for community events, outdoor seating areas, lawn games and an event lawn. The park will be delivered along with the completion of Drake's restaurant.

The Clari Park businesses will be a short walk for the future residents of the development's homes and apartments.

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital for all dnj.com stories.

Clari Park facts

• What is Clari Park: a mixed-use residential and commercial development

• Where is development: northeast side of Medical Center Parkway across from The Avenue Murfreesboro shopping center

• How many acres is Clari Park: 78

• Acres for commercial uses: 30

• Acres for cottages and townhouses: 18

• Acres for apartments: 11

• Acres for either corporate offices or townhomes: 12

• Acres for roadways, parks and ponds: 7

• How many apartments planned: 300

• How many single family detached homes planned: 38

• How many townhouses planned: Up to 282

• What restaurants are part of plan: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Drake's, P.F. Chang's, Cava, Whataburger, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

• Other commercial projects coming so far: Main Event Entertainment with bowling, laser tag and other activities, and food and beverages from Family Kitchen

• Roadway improvements for Clari Park: lane added to Medical Center Parkway by development; two traffic signal intersections on parkway across from The Avenue; extension of Willowoak Trail from Robert Rose Drive on northside of property to traffic signal intersection near Rooms to Go store; an added Robert Corlew Lane (Roby Lane) that's parallel to Medical Center Parkway and goes through Clari Park property

Sources: Hines development company and Murfreesboro government

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: P.F. Chang's, Cane's, Cava & Drake's plan restaurants in Murfreesboro