Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has expressed interest in Aiken.

"Until everything gets approved, we don't know for sure they're coming. They have strongly indicated they want to come to Aiken, and I'm working through the annexation and planning process," said Aiken City Manager Roger LeDuc.

The city has been working with Cracker Barrel for two years on the project, he said.

It has completed a developer's agreement with Cracker Barrel, which indicates the responsibilities of both parties if a restaurant opens. The agreement will go before Aiken City Council on Monday night.

If everything in the agreement is satisfactory to the council, the next step would involve an annexation, LeDuc said.

The restaurant would be on Whiskey Road across from Aiken Mall. The site is now occupied by Rick's Produce, which is leasing the property, LeDuc said.

"It's not in any way definite that we're coming. We've been interested in the Aiken area for a while," said Julie Davis, the senior director of communications for Cracker Barrel. "It's a good next step to go talk to the city council. We're so far down the road, anything could happen at this point."

Cracker Barrel restaurants typically hire about 150 workers. They measure nearly 10,000 square feet. Retail space accounts for 2,100 square feet, Davis said.

The Lebanon, Tenn., chain has 594 restaurants in 41 states. All are owned by the company, according to its Web site.