ASHEBORO — On Monday, Feb. 5, Huddle House at 731 W. Dixie Drive will close for an unprecedented period of about five consecutive days.
Owners Larry, Brett and Bam Black, as well as General Manager Barbara Black, are reinvesting about $125,000 into the business for renovations.
“Our customers deserve for us to continually reinvest in our company,” Brett said.
In the restaurant’s 22-year history as the endcap of the Lowes Foods shopping center on Dixie Drive, it has only closed for weather twice — and even then, each was for only one 8-hour shift and only because the facility had no power. During the blizzard of 2000, not only did they remain open, they served as the home-base for national coverage of the storm. Jim Cantore reported from just underneath the Huddle House sign.
Starting Monday, a construction crew will spend about two days gutting the dining area and bathrooms. It will take about three more days to rebuild. Custom furniture is already in storage next to the restaurant, ready for installation.
Once completed, the interior will have a “warmer feel,” Larry said. All of the fluorescent lighting will be replaced by canned lighting hung above each booth. The color scheme will change and will extend into the bathrooms, the booths will be padded, the wifi and speaker system will be updated and two televisions will be installed — one at each end of the restaurant.
“We want it to have the same feel as the rest of the national chain,” Brett said. “That way, customers from everywhere will know what to expect and have somewhere familiar to visit.”
A few weeks after the construction, the Blacks expect new, updated signs to arrive. And while Huddle House will reopen as soon as construction is completed, a grand re-opening celebration will be planned once the signs are installed.
Other Huddle House restaurants that have already completed similar renovations have experienced a 10-15 percent increase in sales. And while a similar projected outcome would be welcome, the Blacks have continued to do well in the Asheboro market, growing sales annually, despite competition.
The Asheboro Huddle House actually has more competition than most of the more than 400 franchise stores across the Southeast, Eastern Seaboard and Midwest. That’s because the concept for the company includes building in and serving small towns. Asheboro fit the bill 22 years ago, but has grown considerably since then.
Under the Blacks’ leadership and management, Huddle House has continued to grow thanks to its loyal customers and a commitment to them and the company’s mission, “Always open, always fresh.”
“We are also blessed to have wonderful employees,” Brett said. Two have been employed since the restaurant opened. They also have several that have been working for them for more than 15 years, as well as several more that have already celebrated ten years of service.
Another aspect of the Blacks’ success could be tied to their commitment to the community. They offer student and teacher discount award coupons, and have supported local athletics for decades.
There are some things regulars can expect to remain unchanged, including the menu — with the exception of a few new lunch options that are being rolled out nationwide this year — Monday and Tuesday kids-eat-free deals, free waffle Wednesday, and Huddle House’s 24-hour, friendly service.
* Visit The Courier-Tribune’s YouTube page for a podcast featuring the Blacks.