This week I am going to give you a run down on restaurant activity, which now that we finally have a new grocery store is what seems to be on everyone’s mind.
The biggest news is that Checkers has finally broke ground on their new location. Last year, the owners of Checkers acquired land on Northside Drive East between the old Payless Shoes and KFC. The land has had a temporary fence around it for months. They have plans approved to build two restaurants on that site. They originally planned to build a stick built Checkers on the site. Recently, they revised that plan to accommodate a traditional prefabricated modular Checkers restaurant. If all goes well, Checkers will be back up and running by the end of this year. There are no plans announced for a second restaurant on that site at this time.
Down the road in the old Applebee’s the owners have turned on the power and put “coming soon” on the marquee hoping to develop some interest. If the number of texts, calls and emails I have received about this is any indication, it worked. A local restaurant owner was looking at this location to bring back an old favorite to the Boro. However, things have become quiet again on this site. Maybe someone soon will figure out a great use for this prime property.
Near Walmart Market, in the Market District, construction on Sucheros a Tex Mex restaurant is well underway. They hope to be open early 2020.
Downtown renovations continue on the former Gee Da’s Table on West Main. When complete, they will open as Bull and Barrel, which will be a locally owned steak house and bar. They hope to open early 2020.
On East Main, at the former 40 East Grill, renovations continue on a locally owned Indian restaurant, which is named Tandoor and Tap. The goal is to open later this year. This is these the owners first entry into the restaurant business. They currently own two local convenience stores.
Finally, the owners of the former Shuckin’ Shack, beside Wild Wings and in front of McKeithen Hardware on Fair Road, have hatched a plan to reopen the restaurant in a few months. They are exploring different ideas, but my guess is that they will not reintroduce a chain to that location. I hope that it will be a local twist on all the things we love the most in the Boro.
