New Denny's coming soon

HARLINGEN - A new year will bring a new Denny's restaurant to Harlingen.

The 3,900-square foot restaurant will be located in front of Lowe's home improvement store on the Expressway 77/83 frontage road.

Abilio Vela, project superintendent for Topcon Inc. of McAllen said the restaurant construction began about two weeks ago on the three-quarter acre lot.

Denny's should be completed by the end of March or beginning of April, Vela said.

The restaurant will seat about 106 people and will have more than 70 parking spaces available for its patrons, Vela said.

City Manager Craig Lonon said Monday that Denny's is part of a 2006 agreement between Dallas developer Gene Barron and the Economic Development Corporation.

Barron agreed to develop not only Lowe's but also the land around it.

Lonon said there are a total of four "pads" to be developed in that area.

Texas Roadhouse steakhouse was the first pad developed, opening for business in August. Denny's is the second pad to be developed.

Lonon said two more retail businesses or restaurants will be built in that same area by September 2010, under terms of the contract between the EDC and Barron.

Lonon said he expects Denny's to create more than 30 jobs.

Texas Roadhouse created about 165 jobs, Manager Jon Deba said in a previous interview.