SYLACAUGA — The building Ryan’s Family Steakhouse previously occupied has been purchased by the owners of Budsy’s Steakhouse, and their goal is to be open for business within the next 30 to 45 days. Ryan’s Family Steakhouse closed Feb. 11, after its parent company, Buffets Holdings, Inc., announced that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
“Almost the next day, we started working with the owners of Budsy’s Steakhouse, Thomas Cox and Keith Arnold, on the building,” said Sylacauga Chamber or Commerce Executive Director Joe Richardson. “After nearly three months of negotiations, the lease agreement was signed and keys to the old Ryan’s building were turned over to them Wednesday.”
“I’m just really proud that we were able to move this fast, given the nature of the Ryan’s closure and their bankruptcy action,” he said. “To go from a chain going out of business to someone going into that building in 90 days is a miracle. I’m really excited about what they’re going to be bringing to the city.”
Arnold said he was born and raised in Sylacauga, and he knew it would be a good place to open a restaurant.
“This is home, and we’re here to stay,” he said. “I ran the Quincy’s in Sylacauga for 10 years. Back 18 years ago, it had a lot of value and it did really well. I think this part of Sylacauga is just a great place to own a restaurant. We’re here to give good food, good quality and take care of customers. We don’t just only care about our business. We care about the people here in Sylacauga, and we want to provide good service to them.”
Arnold said the restaurant should bring 50 to 55 jobs to the city. Signs will be posted outside the restaurant within the next week to let the public know when applications are being accepted.
This will be the second location for Budsy’s Steakhouse. In January, the two owners opened the one in Riverside, which is located off exit 162 on Interstate 20.
Budsy’s Steakhouse serves a variety of foods, including hickory-smoked barbeque, premium quality steaks, chicken, fish, salads and more.
Arnold said the restaurant will have an ice cream parlor and dessert center.
“We’re going to have everything you would be able to get at these other ice cream locations, such as banana splits, strawberry sundaes, hot fudge cake sundaes and cheesecake,” he said.
The business hours for the restaurant will be Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The restaurant will offer several buffets, including lunch buffets Monday through Friday, a breakfast buffet on Saturday mornings, a seafood buffet on Saturday nights and a buffet all day on Sundays.
Richardson said the chamber and mayor are working on two other projects that will be announced at a later date.
