All day breakfast may eventually be coming to a west Emporia truck stop, but it won’t be at Denny’s.
Denny’s has pulled out of an agreement to open a restaurant at the Flying J, 4215 W. Highway 50. Since Country Market closed there has been no sit-down place to eat, though a variety of hot and cold prepared foods are available in the convenience store.
A year ago an announcement was made that Denny’s would be built on the east side of the truck shop. The project was supposed to cost $300,000, according to a city building permit.
The Denny’s was one of several changes planned at the Flying J as a result of a merger between the company and Pilot Travel Centers LLC of Knoxville, Tenn.
Flying J staff confirmed Denny’s pulled out of the contract. They said company officials have been working on getting a deal with another restaurant. The two most likely potential replacements are IHOP and the Huddle House.
Staff refereed further questions about Denny’s and what is being done to attract a new restaurant to Pilot public relations in Tennessee. However, Pilot corporate officials did not return Gazette phone messages.
IHOP, like Denny’s, is open 24 hours a day and features a large number of breakfast items along with lunch and dinner options. The closest three restaurants are in Topeka, Manhattan and Lawrence.
Huddle House is a popular chain in the south and other parts of the Midwest, but the company is relatively new to the Kansas market. The first Huddle House in the state opened in Newton this year. Wichita is being considered for future restaurants.
Somewhat similar to Waffle House, Huddle Houses are open 24 hours a day and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
bluebonnet (anonymous) says...
IHOP, pretty please!!!!
August 24, 2011 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pnkgurl06 (anonymous) says...
Please let us get an IHOP!!!!!!!!!!!! we need it so bad!!!!
August 24, 2011 at 3:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eccentriceric (anonymous) says...
hot damn i have been wanting IHOP soooo bad. OR Waffle House but they only go to the biggest of big cities. my mom likes huddle house. they have those in alabama. i've never been to one but would like to. we need a 24hr restaurant.
August 24, 2011 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
The location is horrible, if IHOP was to come they would locate out by Wal Mart where people can jump right off the interstate, not navigate the stupid roundabouts and backtrack down a highway. Would be more viable to locate down by Hardee's than Flying J
August 24, 2011 at 5:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Ohhhhhh, now I'm in the mood for blueberry pancakes.
Let me think, do I have blueberries?????
Yes. Frozen ones.
Yeahhhhhh, blueberry pancakes for supper. With sausage.
August 24, 2011 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bubbadleroy (anonymous) says...
Patties or link, create?
August 24, 2011 at 11:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JustWondering (anonymous) says...
Anything but an IHOP. The last time I went to an IHOP the food was OK (when I finally got it) but not great. The coffee was the worst I have ever tasted. I told the waitress I could not drink it and she replied that they had a lot of complaints and knew it was not good. She also said they wanted to change but the corporate office made them use this particular coffee.
Then when I went to pay my bill they still tried to charge me for the coffee. I had to go through the waitress, cashier and a manager to get the coffee removed from my bill.
If they are serving coffee that they know is not good and getting a lot of complaints, they should either change brands or remove the coffee charge for those who cannot stand to drink it. My evaluation is: food is so-so, coffee is terrible, and the service leaves A LOT to be desired.
August 24, 2011 at 11:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I was being healthy and had turkey link sausage, but you know, bubbadleroy, it's pretty good. And the pancakes were great. Not much cleanup either.
August 25, 2011 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
It's pretty sad when Denny's won't come to Emporia. This change to Denny's began over 2yrs ago coast to coast.I have watched the transition from Flying J to Pilot. I have seen SMALL flying J s that were not much more than gas station size get a new Dennys. And they are still converting over at this time. With the parking lot filled to the max every night ( aprox. 50 ).there must be a real problem out there. The other 2 choices mentioned are alright. For the drivers sake I hope they find something soon. If not the word will spread & they will quit stopping. And the ratio of Gas/Diesel purchased won't keep it open. Tourist won't save it either..
August 25, 2011 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
Yeah, they'll just go down the road to Beto Junction I guess.
August 25, 2011 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Let me see, uuummmhhh, isn' t Flying J, going to be almost right across from the new Fanestils' location and in close proximity to one of the most dangerous cross road intersections in Lyon County ?
I don' t remember for sure, I have been out to the " Round a bout " mess only once, and don' t care to visit that area of Emporia, ever again. What a royal, expensive, F. U. that has " turned out " to be, " Rock " and all .
Its no wonder people avoid Emporia !
JMO
August 25, 2011 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Local_Hispanic (Vic Rodriguez) says...
Goodoleboy is right. I've always said that the old Burger King spot on the east side was a perfect place for a IHOP or a Wafflehouse. There's plenty of truck parking and easy access. But too bad the Emporia officials doesn't seem to care about bringing in businesses on that side of town. I wonder if any of them had owned property on that side of town, would it still be empty now?
August 25, 2011 at 11:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Local_Hispanic (Vic Rodriguez) says...
Anyway, Emporia needs a late night afterhours place to eat or drink coffee. S&S is closed, and the Village Inn closes early. I remember the days of the Country Kitchen, Blaylocks and Fred's Derby. Good times
August 25, 2011 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
yes we do Victor. Where are all the drunks supposed to go at 2:00 a.m. for their grease fix?
;>)
August 25, 2011 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Shoot, who in there right mind would want to pay $1500 to $ 2000 per acre when you can buy prime West/North West acreage for a paltry $23,000 per acre.
Besides only " Po Peoples " own South/East and South East properties .
August 25, 2011 at 12:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
Yes, you all are correct. The drivers will just go to BETO to eat & fuel. You don't need the tax $ from a few ?00,000 gallons of fuel. And SAFETY ? wait till somebody steps on it west bound where the speedlimit changes & smashes into the end of a reefer turning into the packing plant. You do need a night eatery like Vic said. But like the Country Kitchen, will they need armed guards on duty to stop the drunk students from dashing out on the bill? Yea it's a funny game...NOT. a 3 lane round a bout. Who was that MORON ? TO EACH HIS OWN, Good Luck
August 25, 2011 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Someone needs to reinvent Sambo's. I predicted that with the smoke ban that the restaurant at Flying J would close. Another big problem is folks go outside to smoke and some don't come back in and pay the bill. I haven't smoked for 15 years and like the smoke ban except I think that each place of business should have the right to run their business with the least amount of government interference and are free to ban or allow smoking.
August 25, 2011 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Denny's will be in Emporia in the near future and this will be due to the intermodal freight hub near Kansas City which will have 15,000 jobs. 1 thousand acres have been purchased for the project and according to the motor carriers association, about 10 thousand trucks a day will come through Emporia. There will be opportunities everywhere for Commerical Real Estate.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/kansas...
August 25, 2011 at 2:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Roundabout Research.
http://www.k-state.edu/roundabouts/ne...
August 25, 2011 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
BNSF Gardner Freight Hub, so what's your point ? How do you think Emporia will benifit from this ? There will be a increase in Truck traffic from the KTA to the Bypass.& on towards Gardner. If you think container trucks will cruise the streets looking for food & shopping think again. There is NO truck parking Down Town...They will go on to BETO. & the thought of hundreds of trucks on I-35 from Mexico flying bye scares the hell out of me.It is NOT the drivers, But they do not have to follow the rules of the DOT.. Many trucks can't pass inspection. But they get a free pass!. check your own spam site & read those local forums... NO THANKS KB.
August 25, 2011 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
LOL denial, Denny's ain't coming..... blaming the smoking ban was really funny, who you going to blame when eventually smoking won't be allowed in public? Which is where it is headed.
I still say they could put an IHOP in where the old burger King used to be, it would do very well with all college kids and easy access to the interstate.
August 25, 2011 at 5:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlando (anonymous) says...
I agree with goodoleboy. Here on the east side, we need some more businesses. Space is here, access is pretty good.
August 25, 2011 at 6:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Tourguide, there are several things on the drawing board but, at this time it is all proprietory information. The site in Kansas City will be where truckers bring there freight going to MEXICO and the freight will go through customs at that time and then on to MEXICO and the trains from Mexico will go through customs on the site near Kansas City. Therefore, I don't think there will be a whole lot of Mexican truck drivers because of the cheap freight rates on Warren Buffet's railroad. By the way, Warren bought 5 billion dollars worth of Bank America stock today and made 1 billion dollars plus he has an option to buy more stock at a low price anytime in the next 10 years--a pretty sweet deal.
August 25, 2011 at 8:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
The Warren Buffet deal.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-...
August 25, 2011 at 8:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
More on the Buffet deal for those interested.
http://5minforecast.agorafinancial.co...
August 25, 2011 at 10:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
What started as a discussion on restaurants ENDs with Trucking. Mexico does not Import they Export. And raw materials trucked into KC for Mexico ? I have been thru customs at LAREDO,TX. I have seen the Mexican Container trucks heading to Chicago. I have been in this industry over 43yrs.. So you believe what you want, I have been there & done that.. Again I have no problem with the men driving, it's some of the unsafe equipment on the roads.!! Enough of this crap. GONE FISHIN"
August 26, 2011 at 6:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Sure, people run stop signs and red lights ! But people also do not pay any attention to " YIELD " signs either, even if they are on the so called safest of " Round-a-Bouts " .
Traffic flow is only as safe as the amount of common sense the person has driving the vehicle, " And thats the truth ", ( tongue out and rasberry noise ) !
August 26, 2011 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
How tip overs do we see and read about on those roundabouts? If I was a trucker where would I want to go? Beto Junction will trump Fyling J every time, it is more accessible, more visible, and truckers do not have to worry about tipping over, word gets out.
The inter model won't mean much for us, our rocks attract tourists, not truckers, or at least that is what we were "sold" anyways........Sure hope they show soon.
August 26, 2011 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
I asked the RDA why Emporia didnt try for the inter model and was told we didnt have this and didnt have that. So I wonder why dont we get what Garder had. Guess we had to spend the money for rocks instead of industry
August 26, 2011 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
Rail access is why you didn't get the Hub. I was told there is no more land for sale with access to a main line ? You had a terminal here but the trucking Co. sold it. Bud V. kept it alive for years, and he still does. Emporia is not a truck friendly town. But the new ramp off the KTA will speed truckers right on around town. And obey traffic laws? Who is the jerk that drives the lite blue Jag that parks in the post office driveway? Thinks he owns the place. Next time Im in town & see him there maybe I will park behind him & go to Bobby's for lunch...
August 26, 2011 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
tourguide,
The light blue Jag, probably belongs to one of the RDA, CVB " Big Shots " or some other self appointed, so called " Emporia Big Shot " !
August 26, 2011 at 11:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rabblerouser (anonymous) says...
Do you mean the intermodal freight hub that Emporia had the opportunity to get and didn't! Great job!
August 26, 2011 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rabblerouser (anonymous) says...
We don't need no stinking hub. Who needs jobs. The current business thinking in Emporia is no competition for the existing businesses. Isolationism at it's worst! If you do the same thing you've always done, you get the same thing you've always got! Nothing new!
August 26, 2011 at 11:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rabblerouser (anonymous) says...
But....but......but.....but we have ROCKS and a new building that holds.....how many.....300. What at joke!
August 26, 2011 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
YEA You have ROCKS hahaha. I saw one last trip up.OMG. And soon you will have Boyers Barn. I hope somebody gets use out of it thats more than a drunken wedding /shoot out party. Emporia you have a nice town & ALOT on NICE folks. Some day it will be GREAT again..
August 26, 2011 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
tourguide,
get that light blue jag's tag number and publish it here.
"...Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt!"
August 27, 2011 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
A site at BETO Junction with a 1000 acers as I understand it was presented and declined for lack of workers in the area. I was not privey to all the reasons, but at least we tried.
August 28, 2011 at 8:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
BS, Wolf Creek manages so could said site.
August 28, 2011 at 10:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
BETO may be a good area for Denny's ? Tough competition @ the TA / Petro truck Stop. And a 1000 acre lot will serve a lot of tourist parking. IF your talking about a HUB @ BETO you know nothing about Trucking . There is only 1 Interstate thru BETO. A 2 lane state highway is of no value to a major trans. Co. Hwy.75 can't handle the traffic Reddog, stick to trying to sell Dog Houses & stay out of the Trucking Industry, You might get run over ! :)
August 29, 2011 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )