Franklin’s longtime Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken has packed up its East Second Street storefront and moved into a larger, modern home on Commerce Center Drive, where a freshly built restaurant is now open. The upgraded spot adds a drive‑thru and more seating as the local franchisee works to reimage the brand’s Miami Valley footprint. The relocation follows plans to redevelop the former downtown site that were ultimately blocked, pushing the company to seek a new parcel in the Commerce Center area instead.
According to a company release picked up by Franchising.com, the restaurant held a soft opening on May 24 and is planning a grand‑opening celebration on June 1, when the first 100 guests will receive a complimentary two‑piece breast‑strip meal. “The only thing that remains unchanged is our commitment to quality and flavor,” co‑owner Chuck Doran said.
New building and site details
City filings submitted to Franklin council describe the project as an approximately 2,389‑square‑foot quick‑service restaurant on a roughly 1.6338‑acre parcel listed in paperwork as 0 Commerce Center Drive, according to the City of Franklin. The restaurant’s public event page and listings give the customer address as 400 Commerce Center Drive, according to Eventbrite.
Why the move
Earlier reporting shows the franchise first hoped to redevelop the East Second Street property but later learned that redevelopment was not permitted, which led owners to pursue the Commerce Center lot instead, the Journal-News reported. The Dayton Business Journal also covered the opening and background of the relocation, noting that the new building replaces the smaller, longstanding Franklin location.
What customers will find inside
Inside, the restaurant features state‑of‑the‑art digital interior and exterior menu boards, updated ordering technology and menu tweaks the brand is rolling out across the region, according to Franchising.com. The Franklin location will operate daily until 10 p.m. with dine‑in, carryout and drive‑thru service, the company says.
Local impact and next steps
Franchise filings with the city show that Far Hills Development LLC, the local franchisee behind multiple Lee’s units in the Miami Valley, will oversee the new store and that the project includes modest infrastructure improvements and tax‑increment details tied to the development agreement. In the documents, the developer predicted the Franklin unit “will be the highest volume restaurant in our company from day one,” and the packet outlines the remaining permitting and site‑work steps before normal operations ramp up.
