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Denny’s on Main Street reopens

New owner puts $200,000 in ‘mouth dropping’ renovations into restaurant

Photos: Denny's in Dayton reopens

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By Jennie Szink, Staff Writer Updated 8:29 AM Tuesday, June 30, 2009

DAYTON — The Denny’s restaurant at 1136 S. Main St. reopened Monday after undergoing a week of “mouth dropping” renovations, said owner Jack Thompson.

Franchisee Thompson was a previous district manager for southwest Ohio Denny’s and bought the Dayton location when he heard its lease may not be renewed. It’s one of the Ohio native’s six Denny’s, with locations stretching from the Cleveland area to Dayton. This is his fifth restaurant renovation and it cost $200,000.

“It’s more like a steakhouse feel, but it’s still Denny’s,” Thompson said. “There’s nothing that was in the dining room before that is here now.”

Thompson replaced the lighting, ceilings and carpet. He renovated the bathrooms, repaved the parking lot and landscaped outside.

“It needed it badly,” Thompson said.

The next closest Denny’s is in Findlay, Thompson said. The menu has stayed the same and he hired back the employees who worked at the restaurant pre-renovation. General Manager Aaron Duvall said having direct contact with the owner instead of a corporation will improve diners’ experiences.

“We’re holding our crew to a higher standard,” Duvall said. “There’s more support for the management.”

When the restaurant reopened at 5 p.m. on Monday there already were two tables of customers, including Barbara and Trent Russell. Barbara has eaten at Denny’s for 20 years and said if she didn’t go to the restaurant a few times a week she’d feel like something was missing. This is the second renovation she’s seen at the Main Street restaurant.

“I think it’s beautiful,” Barbara said. “It’s bright and cheerful.”

Thompson plans to put out coupons in a few weeks to advertise. Until then, he said, customers will pass on the news.

“I think by this weekend word will really start getting out that we’re open,” Thompson said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2282 or jszink@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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