Heard County residents have been abuzz recently in anticipation of the upcoming opening of Franklin’s new full service Mexican restaurant, Loco Rio, located on the town square at the former site of Captain Billy’s.
A new alcohol ordinance passed by the City Council in June paved the way for the new establishment which will offer on-site consumption of beer and wine products by the drink.
According to the new owners, brothers Brian and Jeremy Rogers, they hope to bring much more to their tables than just alcohol sales. “Our focus as a restaurant will not be on alcohol sales. Instead our focus will be on providing the entire community with a comfortable atmosphere, delicious food, and great service. We want to bring in new revenue not only for ourselves but also for the city of Franklin,” stated Jeremy Rogers.
The brother duo will open the restaurant for official business to patrons this Wednesday morning, December 5, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
Although not yet open, the economic impact has already been felt with the hiring of 25-30 new employees between the ages of 16-62. Rogers stated that they are still accepting applications and expect even more hirings once fully operational.
The brothers already operate two other restaurants in Alabama, the Red Pepper Grill located in Oxford and Loco Mex in the college town of Jacksonville.
Unlike the former Captain Billy’s, which only opened a few days per week and seasonally, Loco Rio will be open for business seven days per week and year-round, with the only exceptions being Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
“We hope to cater to all ages by providing great food and entertainment never before offered to the citizens of Heard County and other surrounding areas as well. We will feature Tex-Mex lunch specials to our daytime customers and live music, karaoke, and trivia contests with great prizes to our night-time customers. Additionally, we have also installed nine flat screen televisions for our patrons who want to watch the big games. Serving the community will be our top priority. We would like to bring new life to this town square. ” ~Brian Rogers (Co-Owner Loco Rio)
In addition to the traditional restaurant experience, Loco Rio will also try to make use of its large 300-seat dining area for group parties, church events, and other social functions.
The kitchen will serve several American items including chicken fingers, wings, and a full kids menu. According to Brian Rogers, Loco Rio received over 130 employment applications during a recent two-day hiring period.
Among the sampling of new employees are Ms. Debra Combs, a beloved resident of Franklin who worked many years at Captain Billy’s, and Nicole Neighbors, a teenager who will serve as a night-time hostess.
“I cannot wait for Loco Rio to open and for me to start working there,” said Neighbors, a Heard High School student. “It looks great inside and I am sure the food will be delicious. The owners are super nice and I think everyone will love it. I am so excited!”
Rogers is also working with school officials to obtain some Heard County sports memorabilia to accessorize the dining area. “My dad, Reid Rogers, played on the very first Heard County football team in 1972 and we definitely want to be involved with the Brave Nation as much as possible.”
A view inside the newly renovated dining room overlooking the Chattahoochee River
post the menu, please
Thanks for letting me enter your restaurant and say hello to you! I see you are very busy getting ready to open Wednesday.It is clear you want to be a community member and serve GREAT FOOD Too! My taste buds are slapping my lips waiting for opening day! red