Athens residents young and old will be able to indulge in a burger and fries for a cheap price by the end of November when a new sports bar opens on East State Street.
Leghorns, a small chain of Ohio restaurants that serves wings, hamburgers, pizza and other similar entrees, will take up residency in the vacant building, 994 E. State St., formerly leased to Bennigan's Grill & Tavern, said Greg Powers, the restaurant's owner.
Powers also owns the Leghorns at 850 S. 30th St., in Heath, Ohio and a similar restaurant, Shade on the Canal at 19 S High St., in Canal Winchester, Ohio.
The restaurant will have the casual character of a sports bar where Athens students and residents can hang out and watch sporting events, Powers said.
I think it's a restaurant that students especially will really enjoy
he said. It has a fun and energetic atmosphere to hang out in.
Very little renovation will be done to the inside of the building, he said. He added that minor changes, such as painting, installing TVs and building new tables, are being made.
Powers said he hopes to attract students with Leghorns' good food and reasonable prices.
You can get a good-sized burger fries and a drink for less than $10 he said.
Sophomore Ashley Skeen said she's already excited to try the new restaurant.
I only went to Bennigan's a couple of times
so I am excited about having something new there
said Skeen, who studies psychology. I'm always up for trying new things.
Powers said he decided to lease the building because it was vacant for more than a year and thought it would be a good place to attract students.
The building and plot of land were formerly owned by RBU Enterprises, LLC., and leased to the Bennigan's franchise for nearly three years, he added.
On Aug. 26, 2010, the plot was sold at a sheriff's sale to The Southeastern Ohio Management Company, LLC. for $630,000, said the company's co-owner Brent Hayes.
Hayes said he is optimistic about the restaurant's grand opening because he thinks Leghorns will attract many people.
Although Powers is leasing the space for now, he said he plans to buy the building in three or four years.
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Laura Service
