A Jack in the Box spokesman says the fast food chain with restaurants in 18 states will be bolstering its presence in Oklahoma during the coming months, including adding locations in Moore and Norman.

"We conducted a lot of consumer research in the area and there seems to be pretty strong brand awareness," company spokesman Brian Luscomb said. "There seems to be an appetite for the kind of products they offer."

Construction at the Norman location, 12th Avenue N.E. and Main Street, has begun, he said, although he couldn't say exactly where the Moore location will be or when it will open.

Jack in the Box has more than 2,100 locations "from coast to coast," Luscomb said, including more than 600 in Texas. Oklahoma only has three, one in Durant, Ardmore and Ada.

Although Luscomb wouldn't provide too many details regarding long-term expansion, he did say construction is under way at a location in Broken Arrow and additional locations will be added in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas in the future.

"We are definitely going to be expanding into Oklahoma," he said.

Luscomb said a typical Jack in the Box employs 30 people. He said he expects the Norman location to be up and running by spring 2010.

The architecture of the Jack in the Box in Norman will be the "newest restaurant prototype," the Mark 9, Luscomb said.