Area
Restaurants Gear Up for Busy Thanksgiving Day
By Martha Rose Woodward
As the
country’s second favorite holiday approaches, not only are families making
plans, area restaurants are gearing up for what has become a huge day. With as
many as 50 million Americans planning to travel for the holiday, eating out is
gaining in popularity.
Of the
165 restaurants in this area, some that WILL BE OPEN on Thanksgiving Day are: All
area Waffle Houses, TGI Friday's, Applebee's, No Way Jose's Cantina; Reagan's
House of Pancakes, Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Q, Paula Deen's Family Kitchen, Golden
Corral, Margaritaville, Old Mill, Mama's Farm House, J.T. Hannah's Kitchen,
Iron Boar Saloon, Hard Rock Cafe, Geno's Pizza, Alamo Steakhouse, Holston's
Kitchen, Steak 'N Shake, Smokey Mountain Brewery, Calhoun's, Big Daddy's Pizza,
, all area Shoney's, all area Cracker Barrels, Applewood Farmhouse and
Gondolier Italian.
(If your restaurant was left off this list,
please contact me at Sunspherebook@ aol.com and I will post your information in
a future edition.)
Shoney’s Chairman and CEO David Davoudpour
invited everyone to his restaurant again this year for Thanksgiving. “It’s one
of our team members’ favorite days as they get to serve delicious food with
warm, southern-style hospitality to our valued guests. And yes, we’ll do the
dishes too,” he said.
A manager for Margaritaville said they will
serve their regular menu. Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen will only be open between
10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Applewood Farmhouse says to expect a waiting time of
between one and one half hours. Customers may sign in and take a number and
return when seats are open.
District Manager for Waffle House, Tyler
Hough, said, “We are open 24/7; 365 days a year. Hope you will join us.”
According to the National Restaurant Association, approximately 15 to 20
million people will choose to eat out rather than stay home and cook. Between
45 to 50 million turkeys will be eaten by 88% of Americans.