Lately the trend hasn't been looking good for Franklin. It seems more and more retail and restaurant chains are deciding to locate across 27th Street. Several restaurant/dining chains have opened in Oak Creek within the past few years, including Coldstone Creamery, Panera Bread, and recently Buffalo Wild Wings. Now our neighbor can add another pin to their suit with the Milwaukee-area's third Sonic Drive-In.
Sonic is proposed for an open site along Howell Avenue in front of the Woodman's Food Store.
All the current business buzz in Oak Creek is making me wonder as to how effective our Economic Development Commission is, and whether or not hiring a replacement for Doug Wheaton was truly in the best interests of Franklin taxpayers. Right now, it almost seems that spending the roughly $100,000 per year with benefits on an Economic Development Director would pay itself off with additional developments that could total out in the millions, such as what we're seeing across 27th Street.
