Little Caesars Plans New Lakeland Restaurant Location

A commercial alteration permit outlines a new restaurant space in the Shops of Country Bridge.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Modern commercial storefront facade under construction in a bright, suburban shopping center.
Little Caesars has filed for a commercial permit to renovate a new 1,240-square-foot restaurant space at the Shops of Country Bridge in Lakeland. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Little Caesars is expanding its footprint in Lakeland with a new location at the Shops of Country Bridge. The pizza chain filed a commercial alteration permit to renovate a 1,240-square-foot space at 8950 U.S. 64, Suite 101.

Why it matters

The move marks a continued growth strategy for the company within the region following another recent expansion in nearby Bartlett. The new restaurant will add to the brand's existing local presence in Lakeland.

The project involves an estimated $230,000 renovation for the 1,240-square-foot retail suite. This site will join a network of approximately 4,000 Little Caesars locations currently operating across the United States.

The players

Little Caesars

This global pizza chain was founded in 1959 and currently operates approximately 4,000 locations throughout the United States.

Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development

This local government agency is responsible for processing commercial permit filings and managing land-use zoning within the county.

The details

The restaurant will occupy a space in the Shops of Country Bridge that was previously home to Dryve Cleaners. The permit was filed with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development.

Timeline

  1. Little Caesars was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1959.

  2. A new location opened in Bartlett in August 2026.

  3. The commercial alteration permit for the Lakeland site was filed on October 15, 2026.

Market Landscape

This expansion follows the national QSR expansion trend tracked by QSR Magazine, which indicates a growing focus on smaller footprint retail locations. It positions the company to capture more convenience-oriented traffic as the quick-service industry continues to consolidate.

Local shoppers and pizza fans in the area can expect a new dining option to emerge at the Shops of Country Bridge once renovations are complete. The project replaces a former dry cleaning business, repurposing the retail space for food service.

The takeaway

The addition of a new restaurant to the Shops of Country Bridge increases the density of dining options for residents living along the U.S. 64 corridor. Customers can watch for interior work to begin at the suite following the recent approval of the permit.

Further reading

For more on local commercial development, visit the Lakeland Openings & Closings.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Commercial Appeal.

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