A Second Bakersfield Olive Garden Is Proposed at Crossroads, but It Is Not Yet Approved to Open

The proposal appears in a public notice

A public notice posted August 11 at the northwest corner of Gosford Road and Panama Lane names Olive Garden in an application to sell alcoholic beverages at the developing Crossroads shopping center, according to KGET reporting.

The center is anchored by a Target that opened March 15. Bakersfield's Planning Division has approved a site plan for the overall center, city spokesperson Joe Conroy told the station.

That approval does not mean every listed tenant can begin construction. Conroy said a business seeking to locate there must next submit a building permit, and the city could not comment on private tenant agreements or the pending alcohol application.

What is known about the Bakersfield footprint

Olive Garden currently operates at 1701 New Stine Road, the chain's only Kern County location. The proposed Crossroads restaurant would therefore be a second local site if the necessary agreements and permits are completed.

An alcohol-license application is public because nearby residents and regulators may have an opportunity to review it. It identifies an intended use, but it is not a substitute for construction review, inspections, occupancy approval or a company opening announcement.

No official opening date has been announced. Claims that the restaurant is already under construction or guaranteed to open should wait for a permit record or direct confirmation from the company and developer.

Why the distinction matters for a growing center

A national restaurant can bring jobs and another dining option, while also affecting traffic, parking and nearby competitors. Those effects depend on the final building size, operating plan and site circulation—not simply the appearance of a brand name on a notice.

The most useful next records will be a building-permit application and any California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control action. Permit status can change, so residents should check official databases rather than assume that an application equals approval.

The photograph accompanying this article shows an existing Olive Garden in another state. It documents the real chain but does not depict the vacant Bakersfield parcel or a building that has already been constructed there.

Limits and what to watch

A public notice and an approved shopping-center site plan do not establish a signed tenant agreement, issued building permit, construction start or opening date.

The next development to watch is a building-permit filing, action on the alcohol-license application and confirmation from Olive Garden or the developer.