Cook Out, a North Carolina-based fast food restaurant, was issued permits last October to build a drive-thru restaurant at 604 N. Madison Blvd.

At the time the permits were issued, City of Roxboro Planning Director Julie Kelly believed construction would begin fairly quickly. To date, however, no work has taken place. Now, construction is not expected to start until early fall.

Questions concerning the restaurant coming to Roxboro surfaced recently when local real estate agent Tommy Bowes of Tommy Bowes & Associates placed a sign on the lot. When reached by The Courier-Times Friday, Bowes said the sign, which does not read, “For Sale,” was placed on the lot for “advertising purposes only.”

Seems Bowes and Jeremy Reaves, operator of the restaurant chain, are good friends and Bowes was given permission to advertise on the site prior to construction of the restaurant.

Bowes indicated Friday that, due to demands for restaurants in larger markets, construction of the Cook Out restaurant in Roxboro “had been put off for a while.

“They will probably be starting construction in the early fall,” Bowes added.

Kelly noted Friday that officials with the restaurant chain “had been in contact with the inspection department recently.”

Kelly added, “They are still planning to go from everything I have heard.”

Cook Out was founded in Greensboro in 1989 and has since expanded throughout the state. As of last month, the company had 50 restaurants throughout the state.

Cook Out specializes in grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and North Carolina barbecue.

Meantime, the new Taco Bell/KFC combination restaurant is nearing completion on Durham Road next to the Lowe’s home improvement store.