LAPLACE — A Krystal Burger will be opening in LaPlace by the beginning of December, restaurant officials said.

The restaurant will locate on Belle Terre Boulevard, taking the place of closed Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Douglas Cook Enterprises superintendent Jimmy Wollaston said he put in the permits for Krystal Burger a year ago.

“Official ground breaking was Oct. 4,” he said. “The Krystal company is very good. I built one in New Orleans on Claiborne and it does really well. The one in Kenner also does really well. LaPlace needed something new.”

Senior vice president of operations for Krystal Burger Scott Gallagher said the restaurant has enjoyed success in Louisiana.

“This is our fourth location, six overall in south Louisiana,” he said. “We’ve been looking for sites in the area, and LaPlace seemed like a great fit. Our open date is set for Dec. 7. I think the people here will like the convenience of good, quality food. I think we offer a brand that fits very well with the costumer base here.”

A few changes are being made to the already standing structure.

“This will look and feel like a regular Krystal Burger,” Gallagher said. “We’ve really gutted the building down to its shell. It’s a total renovation. Only thing that stayed up was the roof and the walls.”

All Krystal Burgers have Wi-Fi; the Krystal Club, which is an online group where people can get promotions and other goodies sent to them on a regular bases; and TVs.

The restaurant is also getting all new equipment on the inside, according to Gallagher, adding from the ground up it will be a Krystal building.

“We plan to keep the drive through,” he said. “Our drive through is a major part of our business. We like the convenience part that we can offer to the customers. Our dining area will be beautiful, as well.”

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available for purchase. On weekends, the restaurant will be open 24 hours a day. Gallagher said his favorite item on the menu is a Krystal burger with cheese, adding “you can’t go wrong with a Krystal burger.”

Those interested can apply for employment at krystal.com.

“Most of our restaurants employ 40 to 50 people, depending on how busy the restaurant is,” Gallagher said. “Three to five management people, then 40 to 50 employees. It will all be local people. As long as they have a smile and good attitude, we can turn them into Krystal employees.”

District manager Roy Verret said it is important to hire local people.

“We want to be involved in the community,” Verret said. “We like to do family nights and things of that nature.”

Verret believes the new restaurant will do well in LaPlace.

“We have three in New Orleans, and we want to continue to grow our costumer base,” he said. “LaPlace is a great community. It will be something different for the area. We want to do well and be part of the community. Anything local, we want to be involved in.”

— By Raquel Derganz Baker