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With growth booming despite the slump in the economy, Zebulon citizens will soon have short-range access to most fast food restaurants that can be found on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh.

For some time it was a challenge when deciding what pharmacy to go to, or deciding what to eat based on what side of town you were on and what traffic you didn't want to sit through, depending on the time of day.

But slowly over the years there's been a shift in the big picture. A new Walgreens is about to take over the corner of Arendell and Gannon Avenues, a Sheetz (gas station plus fast food) is set to open on the corner of Arendell and Pearces Road, and a Wendy's/Hess station will soon fill the lot across from the recently opened Sonic.

At the Walmart, which opened in the last year, there is a gas station being built near the road on highway 97, that will serve those stopping in on the various shops in the strip as one enters the shopping center.

The McDonald's, which has served highway travelers and citizens, alike, for many years now just received a face lift as well. All these things are indicative of growth, as commercial business settles in areas where the population has a demand.

Six years ago I used the back roads from Wendell through Zebulon as a shortcut to highway 264, and once I drove past Hardee's there were little to no options. A home-cookin' place here and there was closed by 5 p.m.

Now food can be found in more than one location until 12 a.m. or later. Particularly in an area etched by highways, it would not surprise me one bit to see every side of every exit in town offering burgers and a tank of gas in the not to distant future.