Kilgore News Herald:
The owners of a brand new restaurant on the edge of Kilgore’s city limits say they expect to open the doors before the end of the year.
Owner Dr. Jerry Ted Roberts said he and his partners, son-in-law Brian Hatchett and Ali Sharaf, are investing about $1 million to build and open a Denny’s restaurant at Gateway Travel Plaza on Hwy. 42 at I-20. Roberts said Sharaf is involved with several Denny’s in the Dallas area.
“We’re going to own the real estate and lease to a Denny’s franchisee who will operate it, Earle K. Verner,†Roberts said. He said Verner has been with Denny’s for about 10 years and is looking forward to moving to Kilgore and becoming involved in community activities.
The 5,000-square-foot facility will seat 140 and is already under construction in the parking lot in front of the 14,000-squarefoot Gateway Travel Plaza, which opened in October 2008. Built by KCS Associates in Dallas, the restaurant exterior will be a combination of two-tone brick, rock and stucco.
The travel plaza includes a Wendy’s restaurant, Shell gas station, convenience store and Bank Texas branch.