AIKEN - Aikenites will soon have more options to fulfill their bagel and burger cravings.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries will open this fall and Einstein Bros. Bagels has plans to open a bagel shop in Aiken as well.
Five Guys has selected 1909 Whiskey Road, the site of the old Shoney's, for its location, said company spokeswoman Molly Catalano. The burger chain has opened more than 575 restaurants with its first opening in Alexandria, Va., in 1986. More than 300 franchises have opened in the last five years, according to the company Web site.
Both eateries opened franchises in Augusta on Washington Road last year.
Einstein has not selected a site, but once the location is determined the company will release an opening date, said Paul Carolan, vice president of franchising for Einstein Noah Restaurant Group. The company currently runs more than 100 bagel and coffee shops throughout the country.
There is no "old Shoney's" in Aiken...definitely not at that location. It's still open! Why does the Aiken Standard say no location has been chosen?
I been seeing activity at that Shoneys making me wonder if they might be closing down, well before this announcement. I noticed that they had drastically cut back hours of operation recently.
Yeah, like sojourner said, last I checked the only Shoneys in Aiken is still open (though I guess they could be closing, I've never liked Shoneys so it doesn't affect me), but isn't the Shoneys building rather large for a 5 Guys? The Aiken Sub-Standard says that no site has been selected or lease signed for either restaurant.
http://www.aikenstandard.com/Local/0317Eateries
Apparently, the owner of Shoneys is selling the building, which is being divided up into 2 spaces, so I guess that IS where the burger place is going.
AS AN EMPLOYEE OF SHONEYS OF AIKEN, I'VE HEARD NOTHING OF THIS. I HAVE BEEN OUT FOR THREE WEEKS DUE TO A GUNSHOT WOUND, BUT IT IS PROBABLY JUST ANOTHER RUMOR. RUMOR HAS IT WE'VE BEEN CLOSING FOR MONTHS, AND IT HASN'T BEEN TRUE, JUST AS IT PROBABLY ISN'T TRUE NOW.
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