Looking back before looking ahead. According to NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM & WNWS.COM, here are the top 10 most visited online local business stories for 2019. Date each story appeared online is in parenthesis.
1) Restaurant headed for former Party Mart location
An opening date has not been announced, but a new building will be constructed at 2841 Highway 45 Bypass (pictured) for Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is an American fast-casual restaurant chain based in Wichita, Kansas.
Its menu includes steakburgers, Vienna Beef hot dogs, chicken sandwiches – and the company provides frozen custard with a variety of specialty sundaes and concretes.
Freddy’s is located in 33 states – with 11 either open or opening in Tennessee.
Party Mart Liquors & Wines occupied the 2,300-square-foot facility, before moving to 429 Walker Road in Thomsen Farms. (DECEMBER 3)
2) Texas Roadhouse sets opening date for Vann Drive location
Texas Roadhouse, 1203 Vann Drive, is scheduled to open March 11.
The 7,163-square-foot Jackson restaurant – 3,770-square-feet for dining – offers seating for 274.
An American chain restaurant that specializes in steaks and promotes a Western theme, Texas Roadhouse is being built by Buffalo Construction Company from Louisville, Kentucky, on a two-and-one-half acre site that was once home to one of the first buildings constructed on the west end of Vann Drive.
The company is based in Louisville, Kentucky, and the company’s first restaurant was founded in Clarksville, Indiana, in 1993. (FEBRUARY 6)
3) ‘We’re very proud to be here’ – Empire Theatre nears opening date
Luxury best describes the new Empire Theatre – a new eight-screen movie theatre in The Columns II on Vann Drive.
From the way a moviegoer purchases tickets, to a concession stand with an expanded menu, and electric reclining seats with attached trays, this 21st Century-type Theatre offers more than the usual.
“We’re very proud to be here,” said Phil Zacheretti, president/CEO Phoenix Theatres Entertainment, “We’re getting close to opening – another month or two to go. A lot of the seats have gone in, but there is still a lot of work to do.
“We’re going to have an expanded concession menu … pub style with french fries, pizzas, Orville Redenbacher Popcorn, chicken strips, mozzarella sticks, soft pretzels, Coke products and local craft beers.”
It gets even better once a visitor is inside an auditorium to watch a movie, with new electric reclining seats, in what has become the latest trend in movie theaters around the country.
All seats at the new theatre will recline, but the “Empire Theatre X-perience” will be the only auditorium in the Jackson area to offer recliners with armrests that will raise between two recliners to allow more space between the customers.
The “ETX” auditorium features the only NEC laser projection system in the state of Tennessee.
The 11.1 premium digital sound system will feature immersive surround sound, including ceiling speakers.
The “ETX” auditorium will offer both 2D and 3D films.
The screens will be wall to wall and the digital sound system will be of the highest quality.
“All seats will be reserved seating,” Zacheretti said, “When you order a ticket, three- or four days or a couple of weeks in advance, you get to pick out exactly which seat you want in that auditorium you want to sit in.
“Once you pay for it, it’s guaranteed to be there when you come to the movie that night.”
The theatre will have seating for 700. (FEBRUARY 11)
4) Coyote Blues re-opening in Thomsen Farms
From Blue Coast to Coyote Blues.
Details are limited, but NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM & WNWS.COM has learned Coyotes Blues, will re-open at 1430 Union University Drive, in Thomsen Farms.
Coyote Blues closed at 4 Stonebridge Blvd., March 23, 2018.
The company sold the Stonebridge Boulevard location for $1,490,000 in September, 2017.
Blue Coast Burrito opened in July 2017, at 1430 Union University Drive in the 2,600-square-foot facility.
Blue Coast Burrito closed January 17. (JANUARY 24)
5) Five Guys scheduled to re-open, Monday
Five Guys, 1259 Vann Drive, is scheduled to re-open at 11 a.m., Monday.
According to a sign posted on the door of the restaurant, “This location will be closed due to floor repair.” (APRIL 18)
6) Baudo’s Restaurant – new name, new location
The website and the building remain under construction, but tradition is set to return for Baudo’s Restaurant.
Mama Baudo’s will open in a 2,430 square foot facility at 429 Walker Road Suite A in Thomsen Farms – leased from Ann-Marie Kelley, FirstChoice Property & Development.
Baudo’s Restaurant, which moved to 559 Wiley Parker Rd., in 1972, closed January 19.
The building has been demolished.
The restaurant first opened as B&H Pizza in the Hollywood Shopping Center August 22, 1965. (JUNE 9)
7) Huddle House purchases Perkins Restaurant chain
Huddle House has agreed to buy the rights to Perkins Restaurant & Bakery with the intention of operating the family chains as distinct but sister family restaurant brands.
Bankruptcy court documents reveal that Huddle House has agreed to pay $51.5 million for Perkins.
The combination of the brands will result in a 700-restaurant operation with collective sales of about $800 million, Huddle House said in announcing the deal. About 220 of Perkins’ units and roughly 315 of Huddle House’s 351 units are franchised.
Huddle House has restaurants in Milan, Savannah, Martin, Dyersburg and Paris in West Tennessee.
Perkins has been operating under court supervision since its parent, Perkins & Marie Callender’s, filed for Chapter 11 protection in early August.
Perkins will be run by Huddle House’s leadership team out of the buyer’s Atlanta headquarters, the announcement indicated. It specified that Huddle House has no plans to turn any Perkins units into Huddle Houses, nor vice versa, and indicated that both brands would be expanded. (SEPTEMBER 25)
8) Empire Theatre sets opening date
It’s official. Empire Theatre, a new eight-screen movie theatre in The Columns II on Vann Drive opens to the public April 12.
The ‘Great Movie Give Away,’ will be held April 10. NOTE: NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM will participate in the GREAT MOVIE GIVEAWAY.
Listeners can win free tickets to the opening of the theatre VIP Night – Invitation Only – which will be held April 11.
All seats will be reserved seating. When you order a ticket – even days in advance – you select exactly which seat you want in the auditorium you want to sit in.
An Arcade Area with all the latest and greatest games and crane machines will also be available. (MARCH 19)
9) New business scheduled to open next week at former Sears Auto Center at the Mall
Texas Tires is opening its first store east of the Mississippi River, at 2021 North Highland Avenue.
Store manager Zeke Afify said the store – which is the former Sears Automotive Center at the Old Hickory Mall – will open early to mid next week.
The Jackson store is No. 50 for the company that has corporate offices in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Besides Texas, stores are located in Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Arkansas.
Texas Tires will offer in-stock custom wheels and tires at the lowest prices.
The showroom will feature a variety of plus-size wheel and tire options for any vehicle. (DECEMBER 13)
10) Range USA closes on North Highland Avenue
Range USA, 2310 North Highland Avenue, has closed.
Management could not be reached for comment, and its Facebook page has been deleted.
The company also closed its Memphis location on Whitten Road, Monday. (APRIL 29)
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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