Denny’s, known as “America’s Diner” for its homey atmosphere, generous plates of tasty food and 24/7 “anytime you want it” breakfast, lunch and dinner is opening Sunday in Santa Paula.
And much like its famed eggs served with hash, it will be a “soft” opening to give staff a few days to settle in with real customers with a grand opening coming later.
Denny’s took over a space left empty by Carrow’s at 327 N. Palm where for the last three months restaurant franchisee Farooq Ghias took the building down to its shell.
According to Denny’s spokeswoman Rachel Adams on Sunday the 11 a.m. opening will reveal “its all-new, locally-inspired design and diner menu.”
The Santa Paula Denny’s hired about 70 employees — who received a week of training — but they had to wait while Ghias had the building fully renovated inside and out.
“It’s like brand new,” he noted.
And something there is a need for in Santa Paula: Ghias said the city was selected, “Because there is no family service, 24-hour operation in Santa Paula, only some fast food locations,” with extended hours.
Ghias, a resident of Santa Clarita, had been looking for a new location for a while when he decided to open locally, finding it a “Very good concept to bring into Santa Paula… and Santa Paula needs it.”
Denny’s is known for its wide-ranging menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner including the famed Grand Slam breakfast… if you’re in the mood for it it’s a sure thing to be on a Denny’s menu anytime of the day or night.
When asked if he has a particular Denny’s favorite Ghias noted, “Everything is good… I love Denny’s food and I basically live in them everyday.”
He’s not kidding as the Santa Paula Denny’s will be Ghias’ 14th, a franchise relationship he established with the company — which now has about 1,700 stores — two decades ago this year.
Denny’s, he noted, is “A great brand, a very strong brand,” that boasts an astonishing 96 percent brand awareness nationwide.
Ghias said Denny’s is “Very cooperative, very supportive and one of the largest chains in the world in the family dining category,” where people get to sit in roomy, upholstered booths or at fun, convenient counters to chat-up the servers while enjoying a hearty meal no matter the time of any day.
It’s a formula that has worked for more than 60 years and now there are Denny’s in Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Guam, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and New Zealand.
But, it’s the local Denny’s that is already drawing customers eager to sit down, check out the menu, make up their minds and be served a tasty meal: “We’re already getting so many people there,” hoping to be seated and for now Ghias said “We’re apologizing and sending them away because we’re not open!”
There will be an official grand opening in the future but Ghias wants to “invite people to come in Sunday, March 8 and everyday after that… we never close, we’re open 24 hours. Just come in anytime to enjoy our service and food.”
