MONTEGO BAY — Restaurants of Jamaica expects to open its $50-million KFC store in Bogue, Montego Bay by the end of next month.

The 4,200-square-foot facility will have new features, including palm-sized cash registers that will be used in the restaurant’s two drive-thrus.

“We’re trying to improve the drive-thru service and everytime we build a restaurant we try some new technology,” explained director of restaurant operations, Donald Baugh. “We’re going to put in an updated version of computerised point-of-sale system. The palm-sized cash registers will go straight to the kitchen where the meal is prepared and then the customer goes to the drive-thru window and pays.”

The new KFC will provide jobs to about 150 persons initially, but may change depending on demand. It will also have a kids’ playground.

The Bogue property is one of four planned expansions for KFC this year. The first new restaurant this year was opened at Washington Boulevard in Kingston earlier this week, and there are plans to open one each in Mandeville and Harbour View.

“People need the service. The challenge now is either grow or die and we have to be where people need the service,” Baugh said.

The KFC Bogue restaurant is a part of a massive development being undertaken in the area and forms a part of the Barnett South Commercial Village. To date, a four-screen Palace Multiplex and a Fontana Pharmacy have already opened up there. Other projects expected to come on stream include a gas station and a SuperPlus supermarket.