Tony Packo’s and House of Meats have both been examining expansion opportunities in the Toledo area in recent months. But with The Andersons closing its general stores, where each has long leased space, the search is taking on a new sense of urgency.

“We’ve got some planning to do. This is, for like everyone in Toledo, a bit of a shock,” said Jimmy Harmon, the chief executive officer of Bennett Management, which owns the Tony Packo’s brand.

The famous hot dog chain had been in talks to acquire the former Del Taco site at Secor Road and Executive Parkway in West Toledo to open its first drive-through location.

The deal isn’t officially done yet — the parties are set to complete the transaction on Wednesday — but Mr. Harmon said the concept is indicative of Tony Packo’s growth plans. Expanding the Packo’s brand has been a priority for Mr. Harmon, though he admitted it’s taken longer than he’d like.

RELATED: Shoppers shocked by Andersons closings

With things happening as they are, that’s going to have to change.

“We have an even higher sense of urgency now that we know we have a couple restaurants that are closing,” he said.

Tony Packo’s has been a tenant of The Andersons since 1998, with a store within the local general stores.

In addition to the original at Front Street, Tony Packo’s also has restaurants in downtown Toledo near Fifth Third Field and on Monroe Street in Sylvania. The Andersons said on Sunday they would close their Toledo and Maumee stores and two Columbus stores between April and June.

For House of Meats, The Andersons closure is an even bigger blow. The Toledo-based company had meat counters in both local Andersons stores, as well as in both the company’s Columbus locations.

“They provided us with a tremendous volume, and it will be missed,” co-owner Kate Horner said. “We’re scrambling here now. Our biggest concern is keeping business going and keeping our people employed.”

Ms. Horner said employees tend to move from one store to another, but the four Andersons locations supported at least half of the company’s 174 employees.

“The good thing is we have the other locations in town so we’re going to do the best we can to absorb our help,” she said. “We’ve had a couple [of prospective new] locations on the drawing board for the last year. We’re just going to be a little more aggressive about pursuing them.”

Ms. Horner was confident the company can find roles for many of those affected employees, though she said there would be job cuts. While it’s likely to be a rough few months, officials are confident the business will remain strong.

Tony Packo’s should be able to find spots for all of its employees now working within the The Andersons restaurants, Mr. Harmon said.

House of Meats has six other stores in the greater Toledo area. Ms. Horner did not say which parts of town the specialty butcher shop was looking at for a new shop, though she did say they’d be pursuing freestanding stores rather than looking for another store-in-a-store concept.

The company hopes to have leases signed within three to four months.

She said House of Meats will not be looking to stay in the Columbus area, as it doesn’t have the same brand recognition there that it has here, where it’s been in business for more than 50 years.

Mr. Harmon said his people still need to meet with The Andersons to talk about the closure, though he hopes to remain open for the duration. They’ll be working to get the Secor Road store up and running in the meantime, though he’s reluctant to provide a specific date for opening.

“We’d like to time that as closely to the closing as we can, but we’ve gotta do it right,” he said.

Contact Tyrel Linkhorn at tlinkhorn@theblade.com or 419-724-6134.

First Published January 17, 2017, 5:00 a.m.