The Decatur Daily
By Eric Fleischauer
Staff Writer
Weather permitting, Chili’s Grill and Bar will open between late July and mid-August on Beltline Road Southwest, next to Home Depot.
“The rain has really plagued us on that project,” said Steven Underwood, partner and senior vice president of real estate and development for Memphis-based Valenti Management, the franchisee.
Valenti owns two adjoining lots, which Underwood said are for sale. He said Chili’s typically sells such lots for use as bank branches or non-competing restaurants.
Academy Sports, an outdoors and sporting goods store, is planned for nearby property, Underwood said.
“I really think that’s going to be an exciting area,” he said.
The 6,000-square-foot Chili’s will seat 217. It will include a bar with flat-panel televisions and a dining area. Underwood said it is larger than most of the Huntsville-area Chili’s restaurants.
“We’re so excited about Decatur we’re putting in the biggest and the best,” Underwood said.
“Decatur has a very good, solid population. We feel they are underserved by the casual dining sector. They are our kind of customers.”
Underwood said the fact that Decatur does not allow Sunday liquor sales was a concern for Chili’s, but it has had success in other Alabama locations without Sunday sales.
“It’s always a consideration,” Underwood said. “We decided to proceed in spite of that.”
Underwood said the land was purchased from Decatur entrepreneur Aaron Guthrie. Guthrie also owns Windmill Beverages and a stake in Microtel Inn and Suites off Beltline Road.
Chili’s menu is similar to Ruby Tuesday’s and O’Charley’s. It includes $9 burgers, $13 fajitas, $12 seafood entrees and steaks in the $14 range.
Dallas-based Chili’s operates more than 1,000 restaurants nationwide.
Beltline Road, second in traffic only to portions of U.S. 31, averages 31,000 vehicles per day.