COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Max & Erma's restaurant in Hilliard, 4279 Cemetery Rd., will close for a makeover at 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 10.
When the restaurant reopens at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 15, it will sport a totally new look.
"We're going to enhance both the interior and the exterior of the restaurant," said Rob Lindeman, president of Max & Erma's (NASDAQ:MAXE). "We believe our guests will appreciate the new look, which will stress lighter colors and a more open, spacious interior." The interior decor will still feature walls adorned with the eclectic items that Max & Erma's made famous, but the new design will focus on larger items and less clutter.
The Hilliard restaurant is the second Columbus-area Max & Erma's to be refitted with the new look. The Gahanna location was the first Max & Erma's remodeled in the company, in 2006. Many enhancements have been made to the remodel process since the original remodel.
"We're going to escape from the sea of sameness and differentiate Max & Erma's in the casual dining market," Lindeman said. "Many of our competitors have copied our decor and image. We are establishing a new look that reflects our heritage, while separating ourselves from the competition. It will still be the Max & Erma's everyone loves -- great food and service. We're simply creating a new environment in which to enjoy our food." Lindeman said all of Max & Erma's company and franchise restaurants will be renovated over the next several years. All new restaurants also will have the new look.
The interior front of the Hilliard restaurant will be gutted and completely overhauled during the short time the store is closed. There will be more than 25 contractors working around the clock to complete the project.
"When the restaurant closes Sunday night, we're going to have to be ready to go," said Jeremiah Potter, facilities manager at Max & Erma's. "Columbus is our hometown and has been a great home for Max & Erma's. We're anxious to get all the locations refitted so all our loyal guests can enjoy the new look." The new design will feature elements of the new prototype unveiled earlier this year. The elements include: -- Slate floors will be installed, replacing the wood;
-- Colorful, hand-blown glass fixtures will replace metal fixtures;
-- New table tops;
-- Renovations to the restrooms including new hardware, tile and color
schemes;
-- A new, open floor plan.
The new exterior color will be cream with black accents, replacing the old yellow, green and red. The exterior also will have cultured stone, brick and awnings.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Max & Erma's entered its fourth decade in business in 2003. From a single, neighborhood restaurant that opened in 1972 in the German Village section of Columbus, Max & Erma's operates 100 company- owned and franchise casual dining restaurants. Max & Erma's grew up in the Heartland, but its footprint now extends from the East Coast to Nevada, and Grand Rapids to Atlanta. Additional information on the company can be found at http://www.maxandermas.com/.
M&E CONTACT:
Robin Yocum
614.212.2344
cell: 614.378.3286
DATASOURCE: Max & Erma's CONTACT: Robin Yocum for Max & Erma's, +1-614-212-2344, or +1-614-378-3286 cell Web site: http://www.maxandermas.com/
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