According to a statement from the Lehigh Valley Mall, the buffet-style restaurant was scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m.

The newly built eatery replaces the long-vacant Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant at 900 Lehigh Valley Mall Drive. The old Chi-Chi's was razed and the Golden Corral was built new on the site adjacent to Route 22. Work began in July of 2011 and wrapped up in late fall.

Golden Corral is a national chain headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. The Whitehall location will be the ninth in Pennsylvania.

In a previous interview with Lehigh Valley Business, Whitehall Mayor Ed Hozza said he was pleased the chain chose Whitehall for its newest location.

"People are reporting that they've been going to these Golden Corrals across the country and saying, 'Why don't we have one here?'" said Hozza.

"We are glad that another chain chose Whitehall as its first location. We are the third largest market in the state."