Just because signs are up, the lights are on and the building’s finished doesn’t mean a new combination Long John Silver’s and A&W will be serving customers any day now.

“We apologize that we’re not open yet,” said Michael Vogel, an assistant manager at the restaurant, 1501 W. 23rd. “We’re done, but we’re just training.”

The new combined operation will open at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 2, Vogel said.

The restaurant, which had been a Long John Silver’s, has been closed since Aug. 19. Owner Yum Brands Inc. had the 20-year-old building razed to make way for a new “co-branded” building that originally was to be finished by Nov. 10.

Store officials had hoped to have the place open by Dec. 12, a deadline that was pushed back until today and then, because of weather concerns, delayed until Jan. 2.

The new store has 30 employees.