Texas Roadhouse files plans for Lawrence location; time for a hoedown fundraiser; downtown construction project to temporarily close about 40 parking spaces

Courtesy: City of Lawrence

It is time to let my Willie Nelson beard grow out, begin driving my dually pick-up truck on the shoulder of the road, and start bragging about how the Longhorn football team is going to win the next 10 national championships. (Always starting next year, of course.) That’s right, it is time to get our Texas on. After months of speculation, we now have confirmation that the restaurant chain Texas Roadhouse is coming to Lawrence.

We began reporting back in December that Texas Roadhouse was looking for a south Iowa Street location. Well, the company has now filed plans to occupy the space that formerly housed Saints Pub + Patio. That’s near the southwest corner of 23rd and Iowa streets. Yes, the busiest intersection in the home of the Jayhawks soon will be flying a Lone Star state flag.

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There also will be line dancing going on, peanut shells thrown on the floor, and lots of free rolls. If you are not familiar with Texas Roadhouse, it is kind of a budget steakhouse chain. Among its signature offerings are free peanuts in the shell that you are encouraged to throw on the floor (warning: my wife may still yell at you,) all-you-can-eat dinner rolls, and the staff sporadically begins line dancing. (Originally, I thought that was an effort to get me to pack up my sleeping bag and quit ordering rolls, but I’m told that is just part of the routine.)

As for the food, the restaurant offers a variety of hand-cut steaks ranging from sirloins to rib eyes to T-bones at price points from about $10 to $25. Ribs also are a big part of the menu, as well as plenty of country sides such as potatoes almost anyway you like them, their version of a blooming onion, and hand-battered, deep-fried pickles.

In Kansas, the restaurant has locations in Olathe, Topeka, Manhattan and Wichita. The company has more than 400 restaurants across the country. Interestingly, the company didn’t get its start in Texas. It was founded in Indiana. But, I’m fairly confident, Lawrence is still going to adopt Texas ways. Many in the community already do their best to emulate Willie Nelson, although not necessarily by growing his beard.

No word yet on when the restaurant may open. Plans call for demolition of the building that housed Saints at 2329 Iowa St. The company plans to construct an approximately 7,200 square foot restaurant building as part of an approximately $900,000 project.

It will be interesting to see if this project spurs other redevelopment in that shopping center, which is at a very busy intersection but has struggled to maintain tenants in recent years.

Courtesy: City of Lawrence

In other news and notes from around town:

• Maybe Lawrence is going country. South Iowa Street certainly is going to look a bit more country. In addition to the Roadhouse project, I remind you that just down the street at 27th and Iowa, the Boot Barn will be going in next to Dick’s Sporting Goods. The renderings we have show the facade will look kind of like a barn.

Courtesy: City of Lawrence

So, you had better start preparing your country ways. I can give you diction lessons. (Lesson No. 1: Never use that phrase in a country bar.) Or, you could just plan to attend the United Way’s newest fundraiser.

The United Way has announced it is going to host a Chili Hoedown and Cornbread Competition on Oct. 3 at St. Margaret’s Church, 5700 W. Sixth Street. In addition to the chili and cornbread eating, there also will be square dancing, complete with professional square dance callers.

Folks interested in competing in the chili and cornbread competition can register for $20 by going to this website. Tickets for the event also can be bought at the website. Admission is $25 for adults, which includes chili, cornbread and beer. Youth admission is $10 for kids 13 and over. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.

• I’ve gotten word from the city about a downtown project that motorists will want to keep an eye on. As we’ve previously reported, The Eldridge Hotel has filed plans to build a major expansion in the vacant lot just south of the historic hotel.

Now, plans are starting to come into City Hall about how the project will impact parking and traffic flow in downtown. Mark Thiel, assistant public works director, said the current plans call for about a dozen parking spaces in front of The Eldridge and the vacant lot to be closed from October until about December 2016. The sidewalk in front of the area also would be closed. The parking spaces will be used to house a crane for the construction project. The positioning of the crane also will be mean that northbound traffic on Massachusetts Street won’t be able to turn west onto Seventh Street. So, prepare a different route to the post office.

The city-owned parking lot behind The Eldridge also will be closed until about December 2016. The parking lot, which has 27 spaces, will be used to house construction materials. There will be some changes in access to the alley, but Thiel said a plan is in place that will allow delivery trucks to still access the alley to serve businesses in the 700 block of Massachusetts.

City commissioners will get a chance to review the traffic control plans for the project. The plans likely will be presented to commissioners at their Tuesday evening meeting.

“We feel comfortable with what is proposed,” Thiel said. “There may be some things we tweak to try to accommodate other businesses, but we think they have submitted a pretty good plan.”