OXFORD — Applebee’s plans to open a new restaurant on Route 26.

The dining chain plans to begin renovating the former Oxford Federal Credit Union building at 1591 Main St. in the coming weeks and open by the end of the year, Bob Harrington, director of operations for Applebee’s of Northern New England, said.

Applebee’s plans to completely renovate the building and the work is expected to take about two months.

The building and the land, which are beside Hannaford supermarket, are owned by developer and longtime Paris Hill resident Bob Bahre.

Prior to holding the credit union, the building was also a Bonanza restaurant.

Oxford Town Manager Michael Chammings said he looks forward to the jobs the new restaurant will bring and said he expects more businesses in the future.

Directly across Route 26 the Oxford Casino, local developer Joe Casalinova plans to build a four-story hotel and restaurant. At least two other chain restaurants are looking at the busy road as a possible location, he said.

Chammings described the casino as an “anchor” to the town’s retail development, much as malls thrive around a dominant store.

“They attract other businesses,” Chammings said.

Such development helps ease the effects of the closure of large employers, such as the long-closed Robinson Manufacturing mill.

“We haven’t had a tax hike, really, in 10 years,” Chammings said. “This is how.”

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