The news: A new Panda Express is getting a Chamber ribbon cutting in Bartlett. The Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled the event for Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 9:30 a.m. at 8030 U.S. 64 — the former Colton’s Steak House site next to Wolf Run Plaza. The Chamber says the event is free and open to the public.

What’s being built: On Aug. 4, 2025, Bartlett’s Planning Commission unanimously approved a revised site plan for the restaurant. The plan calls for demolishing the closed steakhouse and building a one-story, 2,697-square-foot Panda Express with drive-thru service on the 1.24-acre lot in the C-H Highway Business district.

Site details: Staff materials for that meeting say access stays on the existing Highway 64 driveway shared with Wolf Run Plaza. The plan shows 56 parking spaces (including three ADA spaces and drive-thru stacking), with greenspace rising slightly to about 25.25%. Justin Crable of Atwell LLC was listed as the applicant; the commission voted to approve with conditions after staff recommended approval.

How we got here: Colton’s Steak House closed at the Bartlett location in January 2025, according to the Planning Commission packet. Bartlett Growth later described the project as the fifth Panda Express in the Memphis metro and pointed to an early-2026 construction start with a September 2026 wrap target. The Chamber’s Nov. 17 ribbon cutting puts a public opening date on the calendar after that construction window.

What’s next: Watch the Chamber event page for any time changes, and the restaurant for hours once it opens. A separate Chamber ribbon cutting is also on the books for Tuesday, Nov. 10, for Fbrc8 LLC’s Stage Road showroom — a different business story for another day.

Sources: Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting event (Nov. 17, 2026, 9:30 a.m., 8030 US 64); City of Bartlett Planning Commission minutes, Aug. 4, 2025 (unanimous site-plan approval); Planning Commission Aug. 2025 agenda packet (site data, applicant); Bartlett Growth, Sept. 4, 2025.

Photo: Panda Express exterior elevation rendering posted by Bartlett Growth for the U.S. 64 redevelopment.