Texas Roadhouse coming to Cape

Business Today

As the new Cape Girardeau Holiday Inn Express begins to take shape near the intersection of William Street and Interstate 55, there have been rumors of what businesses will take shape around the new structure.

Cynthia de Journett Austin, commercial specialist with Re/Max Achievers, announced in late October that a deal was closed that will bring the Texas Roadhouse national steakhouse and restaurant chain to Cape Girardeau.

Austin, who brokered the deal, said that Brian Judd of Jeffersonville, Ind., will locate his 18th Texas Roadhouse franchise on a little over two acres of land at 13 Doctors' Park Drive, just south of Cracker Barrel. The new 6,900-square-foot eatery will seat 239 people and, according to Judd, employ 140 full- and part-time workers.

Judd is the largest franchisee of Texas Roadhouses in the nation. Overall, the Louisville, Ky.-based Texas Roadhouse company has 182 stores in 34 states.

The restaurant specializes in hand-cut steaks, but also offers ribs, seafood, homemade side-dishes and freshly baked bread. In 2003, it was voted the top steakhouse in America by Restaurants and Institutions Magazine Consumer Choice Survey.

While the deal has been closed, Austin said that a groundbreaking date for construction has not been set. An exact opening date is also uncertain at this time.