Milo's Gauging Interest For Potential Northport Location

NORTHPORT, AL. — A popular Alabama fast food chain will bring its food truck to Northport Friday to test the market waters as it considers bringing one of its restaurants to the city.

District 5 Councilman and Council President Jeff Hogg announced on Wednesday that Milo's will set up its Burger Bus in the parking lot of the former Hardee's location on the corner of Highway 43 and Mitt Lary Road this Friday from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

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If the company decides to open a new restaurant in Northport, it would be the Birmingham-based burger chain's second location in the Tuscaloosa metro area, with the other off of Skyland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa.

"After meeting with Milo's it was very apparent that they love our city and think Northport will be a great market for their expansion," Hogg told Patch on Wednesday. "But just like all businesses, they want to be sure that the interest is mutual so they would like to test the area to gauge our citizens interest."

Hogg then expressed excitement for potential growth in Northport, especially when it can benefit citizens of his district who have expressed a desire for more food offerings.

"Basically it comes down to, do our citizens want this business?" he said. "If they do, they control their own fate and I have a feeling that Milo's will be pleasantly surprised at our citizen's reactions."

Hogg told constituents on Facebook that the ongoing pandemic has has hurt new business recruitment efforts, but that city leaders refuse to give up, resulting in Milo's showing interest.

"Although most sit down restaurants haven’t even wanted to talk about expanding during a pandemic, on the flip side, fast food restaurants are starting to expand a little more only because they have drive-thru windows."

Hogg previously said he and other city officials had been in talks with a well-known fast food chain interested in a potential location near Tuscaloosa County High School.

He then said Friday would be a test run for Milo's and if the lunch crowd has a strong turnout, then they will do another trial run for the evening traffic at another date.

If Milo's does decided to set up shop in Northport, Hogg said a new store could be up and running in 2021.

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