Construction has begun on Springfield's second Newk's Eatery franchise.
DanCo Cafe LLC of Mississippi is building the new Newk's at 220 W. Battlefield Road in the former Balboa Bed Co. lot. Memphis, Tenn.,-based Horizon Construction LLC recently started work on the 5,000-square-foot restaurant, which was designed by Fleming Architects, also of Memphis.
Daniel Garrett of DanCo Cafe plans to have the $1.2 million project completed by mid-December. The building permit was issued Aug. 15.
DanCo Cafe opened Missouri's only other Newk's Eatery in Springfield
in 2012 at 2639 S. Glenstone Ave. The chain originally was known as Newk's Express Cafe.
Garrett said the Jackson, Miss.-based chain hopes to springboard its Springfield presence into restaurants in other areas of the state.
"We hope this second location in Springfield will be the impetus for the rest of Missouri,” he said. “We feel like Springfield is the key because it's more culturally in line with the southeast than most of the rest of the state.”
The company, which has locations in other college towns in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, also wants to open restaurants in the Columbia and Jefferson City markets, he added.
Unlike its first store in Springfield, which is leased, DanCo Cafe purchased the lot on Battlefield Road. The former Balboa Bed Co. building was razed in June.
With its new location, DanCo Cafe plans to unveil an updated Newk's Eatery look. Garrett said the restaurant would still serve the sandwiches, soups, pizzas and salads popular with customers, but it will be sporting new colors and design.
"It has a little updated look — a more modern look, you could say," Garrett said.
The restaurant, which is slightly bigger than the 4,800-square-foot Glenstone Avenue store, would feature the same open floor plan and open kitchen of the first location. The franchisee also has decided to add a row of single-seat tables, which Garrett said is a growing trend in restaurants.
Newk's will employ 60 to 70 people, Garrett said, noting the number of employees would fluctuate based on sales volumes.
Newk's Eatery was founded in 2004 by Don Newcomb, Debra Bryson and Chris Newcomb, who also started McAlister's Deli in 1989. There are more than 100 Newk's stores in 13 states.
DanCo Cafe initially bought into McAlister's Deli as a franchisee and opened one in Springfield. In 2011, DanCo sold its McAlister's and became a Newk's franchisee. DanCo currently owns and operates six Newk's Eatery restaurants and plans to bring the total to eight by the end of the year.
