Tony Roma’s Opens Next To Valley Mall Other Businesses Will Be Opening Around The Eatery
A new Tony Roma’s restaurant opened Monday next door to the Spokane Valley Mall.
The $1.5 million rib and chicken restaurant is the first “pad” business to open in the retail village adjacent to the mall, and the second Tony Roma’s in Spokane. It is part of a development by Hanson Industries.
Buildings for several other businesses - including Gart Sports, a sporting goods retailer, and Circuit City, an electronics company - are under construction around Tony Roma’s.
Two other retail chains - Barnes and Noble, a national bookstore chain, and Staples, an office supply company - are negotiating with Hanson Industries to become part of the complex.
As the new mall’s first neighbor, Tony Roma’s opened to a flood of business. Customers lined up all week to check out the new eatery.
Inside the 6,100-square foot restaurant, thousands of bricks form archways and walkways. The elevated bar area is covered by awnings and overlooks the dining room.
“It’s really an attractive building and layout,” said Lowell McKee, the 47-year-old co-owner of the new franchise.
The two Tony Roma’s restaurants in Spokane - the other is on the North Side - are part of a Texas-based chain of franchises.
The Valley restaurant will feature late night hours. McKee said he hopes to coax evening moviegoers from Act III’s nearby Valley 12 Cinemas. The restaurant also sports two major banquet areas, which will be used for catering and special events.
About 100 employees work at the new restaurant, McKee said.
There have been a few bumps along the way as McKee and his staff prepared for the restaurant’s opening.
Many supplies were held up by the United Parcel Service strike.
“It has been a big deal; every day is a chief worry,” said Wayne Bergey, general manager. He’s had to reroute several shipments on Federal Express to get materials in time. A slew of Tony Roma’s tablecloths are still sitting in a truck somewhere in Spokane.
McKee shares ownership of several other restaurants in the area, including the North Side Tony Roma’s and area Perkins.
, DataTimes