Panda Express opens in Mattoon

MATTOON — The sounds of excited customers and music filled the parking lot of the first Panda Express in Mattoon and Coles County.

The grand opening took place on Friday at 10 a.m., with a soft opening occurring earlier in the week. Dozens of community members, organization leaders, and officials from Panda Express corporate were in attendance.

The restaurant features dine-in seating for customers as well as a drive-thru and delivery services through third-party delivery applications.

Panda Express has over 2,300 locations worldwide, the vast majority of which are in the United States. With Mattoon’s new location, there are 117 restaurants in Illinois.

Panda Express was founded in 1983 in Glendale, California, by Andrew and Peggy Cherng.

The store is located at 1412 Fort Worth Way in Mattoon, as part of the ongoing Emerald Acres Sports Connection commercial development on the east side of town.

A request to speak to a corporate spokesperson at the opening was not fulfilled.

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Jacob Hamm

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Jacob Hamm covers a wide variety of topics across Central Illinois, such as protests, artistic and cultural events, local economic development, and the occasional column.

The Decatur, Ill. native is a 2023 graduate of Richland Community College (AA, Journalism) and a 2025 graduate of Eastern Illinois University (BA, Broadcast Journalism). He returned to Eastern Illinois in the fall of 2025 to pursue a Master's degree in Communication and Media Studies.

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