The Pizza Express chain is to open a restaurant in Uckfield, creating 20 jobs.
Pizza Express has spent £300,000 on the former water board premises in the High Street.
It hopes conversion work will be completed by the end of the summer so it can open in time for Christmas.
A spokesman for the firm said: "We feel Uckfield has a lot going for it at the moment in terms of its economy."
Estate agent Chris Lawson, of Lawson Commercial, said: "This is jolly good news for the town after all the doom and gloom that was reported last year."
Uckfield mayor Mike Skinner said: "Pizza Express is a national chain showing faith in Uckfield and I am really pleased."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article