Published: March 18, 2008 09:42 am            

Eatin’ good

Corbin Applebee’s opens its doors

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

After months of anticipation, including a one week delay, the Corbin Applebee’s opened Monday and lunchtime business was booming with residents looking to “eat good in the neighborhood.”

General Manager Lucia Moats said customers were lined up at the door for the restaurant’s 11 a.m. opening. While the anticipation for Fiesta Lime Chicken, Quesadilla Burgers and Shrimp ‘N Parmesan Sirloins may have seemed great among Corbinites over the past few months, the wait for Moats to begin serving area residents has been even longer. She said she made the commitment to relocate to the Corbin location more than a year ago.

“I know they’ve been looking at this site in Corbin for three years now,” she said. “It has been a long time in the process of bringing it here.”

Moats, who has worked for Applebee’s for three years and previously worked in Gatlinburg and Knoxville restaurants, said, for the most part, operations went smoothly for the grand opening. She said a few orders took a tad longer than expected, but any issues such as this should be ironed out soon.

“Everything I’ve seen has been great,” she said. “For most guests, if the food is good they’ll be happy even if they have to wait. I’d rather have happy servers and good food quality. In a week’s time, we’ll be great.”

If the restaurant proves to be a successful venture, Moats predicts more choices to present themselves to Corbin residents in the near future.

“In a year’s time, there will be something else here,” she said.

Applebee’s is located on the Cumberland Falls Highway, below the exposition center that is currently under construction.

While some may be turned off by the presence of a bar, Moats stressed it is far from the eatery’s focal point.

“We don’t want to be a bar-type atmosphere,” she said. “That’s why it’s called Applebee’s Grill & Bar. The bar is here for those who enjoy it.”

A city ordinance prohibits the sale of alcohol in Corbin on Sundays, but Moats said managers have been kicking around a few ideas for how to approach this, such as Sundae Sundays, in which the bar area would be converted into a sundae stand for children.

“We want the focus to be more on the family aspect on Sundays,” Moats said.

The Corbin Applebee’s is a welcome sight to dining denizens across the Tri-County. And for many of those present for Monday’s opening, the chance to get the first crack at a soup, salad or steak couldn’t come soon enough.

“It was a well-needed attraction,” said Corbin resident Berni Onkst. “It was great. This is a relaxed atmosphere. I think it’s sort of a family atmosphere.”

Onskt added that Applebee’s menu has something to offer for everyone.

“I diet,” she said. “The lunch with the soup and salad, it’s perfect.”

University of the Cumberlands student Brittany Jones, a Barbourville resident, is taking full advantage of her spring break. Before heading off to the beach, she decided to give the Corbin Applebee’s a try.

“I was excited about this,” she said. “It’s good to have one back home.”

Jones also said the restaurant’s staff impressively handled the opening day lunchtime swarm.

“Everyone has been really nice,” she said. “Even though they’ve been busy, they’ve prepared and handled the situation very well.”

People there agreed this type of establishment hits the spot for the area.

“I think there’s a great need between Corbin, London, Barbourville and Williamsburg for these kinds of restaurants,” said London resident Mark Waldron. “The location is right off the interstate, so it’s a good opportunity.”

Waldron apparently couldn’t wait to sink his teeth into one of Applebee’s Bourbon Street Steaks.

“They’re excellent, of course,” he said. “My wife will be very jealous I got to eat here today and she didn’t.”

Delbert Mabe of Corbin said the restaurant is a perfect fit for an area in which many feel the need for such businesses is high.

“Applebee’s is a great place to eat,” he said. “It’s been a real good opening day. The service has been good. For Corbin to get a restaurant like this is A-plus.”

        

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