When the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency meets this Wednesday after completing its organizing, they will hear proposals for more fast food ventures in downtown Niagara Falls.
Muhammad Shoaib, who runs around 20 fast food franchise locations on both sides of the border, plans to ask for $51,000 in tax incentives in order to bring Church’s Texas Chicken, Carvel Ice Cream and Jamba Juice to the city.
Under the name Niagara Krispy Crunchy Fried Chicken LLC, the Church’s location planned for 310 Rainbow Blvd, inside the Hyatt Place Hotel, is looking for $24,000 in sales tax exemptions. The $410,000 project would replace the Cantina Falls Mexican Restaurant located there with project documents stating it would create 13 full- and part-time positions with an average salary of $44,230.
This would be the first Church’s Chicken location in New York, with the Atlanta-based chain having 767 locations nationwide. Shoaib also operates locations in St. Catherine’s and Niagara Falls, Ont.
Under the name Rainbow Sweet Cravings, Shoaib’s Jamba Juice and Carvel locations are eyed for vacant space in the Wingate by Wyndham at 333 Rainbow Blvd., where a Moe’s Southwest Grill location is. The $460,000 project is looking for $27,000 in sales tax exemptions, creating 13 positions with an average salary of $55,461.
This would be the first Carvel Ice Cream in Western New York, with the majority of the state’s locations in the greater New York City area. The Jamba Juice location would be the first in Niagara County, with the University of Buffalo North Campus having the only other one in the region.
The restauranteur has come under fire for asking for these tax incentives in the past, with the IDA’s past approval of $433,750 of incentives for the A&W and Moe’s locations on Rainbow Boulevard drawing criticism from state lawmakers claiming loopholes were being exploited. The two are located in the same distressed area, Census Tract 211, as these new proposed locations.
He also received $246,603 in incentives this past February for turning the former Haunted House of Wax into a fast-food franchise hub. The $2.55 million project would feature Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Carvel Ice Cream, Subway, and Mediterranean food, create 40 positions, and would finish by this June.
The State Department of Labor started investigating claims from former Shoaib employees in January regarding withheld tips and not being properly paid for overtime. IDA officials have previously told the Gazette they would see what comes of this investigation before taking any potential actions.
The IDA will also hear micro-enterprise grant applications from start-up company Falcon Aircraft Maintenance and Timothy R. Woodean Chiropractic and Massage Therapy PLLC.