Richlands residents will soon be able to enjoy “Any Meal. Any Time.” with the opening of the area’s first Huddle House restaurant. Local entrepreneur, developer and now new Huddle House franchisee, Travis Hackworth, has scheduled a July 27 opening for the family dining restaurant located at 2611 Front St in Richlands.
Owner of several businesses in Richlands and Southwest Virginia, Hackworth knew the iconic diner would be a perfect fit for his hometown after dining at a newer model Huddle House restaurant with his family while traveling.
“The Huddle House menu appeals to all ages and all demographics, which is why it was so attractive to open a Richlands location. I’m confident we will quickly become a popular gathering place for our community,” Hackworth said. “Whether it’s for meetings, lunch breaks or Sunday morning gatherings, the demand for comfort food served in a warm atmosphere has never been greater.”
The Richlands Huddle House restaurant is a freestanding location that will seat up to 117 guests and reflects the 51-year-old chain’s new look and design.
Hackworth, who plans to have a grand opening celebration later this summer, said the new Huddle House will be a warm and friendly new addition for his hometown in Southwest Virginia.
“There was a need in Richlands for a comfortable, local place for everyday people who crave Southern home-style food,” Hackworth said. “What I really like about the Huddle House concept is that it really does become a local gathering place in every community. What makes this even more special is it also happens to be my community.”
Typically open 24-hours, Huddle House serves breakfast, lunch and dinner all day. The menu offers a mix of Southern inspired comfort food, including signature Big House breakfasts, crispy hash browns, creamy grits, golden waffles and fluffy omelets, all made to order. Other favorites include Big Bold Burgers, Big House sandwich platters, country fried steak with green beans and marinated grilled chicken with sweet potato fries.
Huddle House now has more than 400 restaurants open or under development nationwide and is on track to open more than 100 new restaurants over the next three years. The growth will be accomplished primarily through franchising by both single-unit and multi-unit investors in a range of market sizes, including urban areas, small towns, travel centers and convenience sites.
“It’s great entrepreneurs like Travis that have a passion for people and a passion for food that make our restaurants so successful,” said Huddle House CEO Michael Abt. “It’s an exciting time to be a Huddle House franchisee as interest in our franchise opportunity has never been higher.”
The core values on which Huddle House was founded – serving quality food in a warm, friendly environment that brings the community together – remain intact today.
