Battle Creek, Kalamazoo Among First Michigan Cities to Get a Jack-In-The-Box

It's finally happening. The fast food chain I have developed a love/hate relationship with through my entire life has followed me to my new home in Michigan, and soon, southwest Michigan will get a taste of why I both love and hate this place.

It's incredible to think, but soon, Michigan will be getting its first Jack-In-The-Box locations, including one in Battle Creek, and another in Kalamazoo.

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The plan, according to executive with Jack-in-the-Box, and franchisee Niraj Patel, is to open five new Jack-In-the-Box locations across southwest Michigan over the next five years. It's not immediately known where the stores will be exactly, but the first WILL be opening in Battle Creek. But again, an exact location isn't known just yet.

"This is very exciting because we can give our community more food options and help provide 40-50 new jobs per location. We have been in our west Michigan community for decades, and we love to see the growth in our community. We own and operate a dozen hotels in the west Michigan area and want to expand our hospitality portfolio with the addition of a [Quick Service Restaurant] concept."

Patel, and their business group do own a number of establishments across west Michigan, including in Kalamazoo, Calhoun, and Kent Counties, which is where they plan on adding the other four JItB locations.

What's so Great about Jack-In-The-Box?

I mentioned my love/hate relationship with this restaurant, and it's truly that I hate how much I love this food. Places I grew up had them in abundance, so it was readily available, it was cheap, and it was satisfying... but maybe not the BEST health-wise. (But what fast food restaurant truly is healthy, right?)

It doesn't matter what you might be craving, they've got a fast food version of it on the menu. Burgers? Yup. Chicken? Uh huh. Tacos? Famously cheap and divisive. Egg Rolls? Yeah, sometimes, actually.

It is the ultimate comfort food for me, so if one is opening near me, I'm in trouble. The last time I lived near one of these places, I gained about 30 pounds over the course of a year.

And while my late-night partying days are mostly behind me, there is something about a container full of sauced and loaded tiny tacos, or the Bacon & Swiss Buttery Smashed Jack that really hits the spot.

Guess I'm gonna have to hit the gym extra hard now, because a Sourdough Jack with some onion rings sounds pretty damn good right now.

The new restaurants coming also means we can knock another place off the list below of fast food joints we DON'T have in Michigan.