McAlister’s Deli, a Mississippi-based restaurant chain, plans to open a new location at 27th and Iowa streets.

The restaurant will occupy a portion of the former Ed Marling’s furniture store with a tentative opening date of Oct. 13.

Craig Bothwell, franchisee for McAlister’s Deli, said the company wanted to enter the Lawrence market because it has traditionally done well in college towns. The chain features sandwiches, baked potatoes, desserts and sweetened tea.

The store would be the company’s fourth in the state, with two stores in Wichita and one in Manhattan.