Dixon Arby's to open in mid-July

DIXON – The new Arby’s in Dixon is slated to open July 16.

Heartland Beef Inc., an Arby’s franchisee group, is wrapping up work with its 37th restaurant at 1650 S. Galena Ave. and will kick off its opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. July 16, which will be followed by complimentary coffee and turnovers before officially opening at 10 a.m.

A grand opening event will start at 10 a.m. on July 20 where the first 100 people will be able to enter to win free Arby’s for a year, totaling 52 free meals.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 101.7 River Country will be live on site with several giveaways including an overnight stay for four in the Wisconsin Dells with water park admission, a four-pack of day passes to Magic Waters, a pair of 6-day passes to the Mississippi Valley Fair, and another chance to win the free Arby’s for a year.

The City Council approved a special use permit for Heartland to build an Arby’s with a drive-thru late last year and then in April signed off on splitting the property as the company was entering talks to bring in a national coffee shop chain on the other side of the property.

Heartland, which is based in Bloomington, Indiana, has restaurants in five states, including those in Rock Falls and Clinton, Iowa.