By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO — Barring a change in plans, it will be a May day that steak lovers and town officials have been eagerly anticipating.

A mid-May opening is the target for Millsboro's new Texas Roadhouse, a Western-themed sit-down restaurant famous for its hand-cut steaks, ribs and homemade fixings.

“With four other locations in Delaware already, there’s been a lot of demand in this market,” said Amanda Norton, communications director for Kentucky-based Texas Roadhouse. “We are excited to bring great value and made-from-scratch food to the Millsboro community.

“We are early on in construction, but things are moving along. Weather can always have an impact,” Ms. Norton said. “The estimated opening date is mid-May.”

Under construction in the Peninsula Crossing shopping center on U.S. 113, the Millsboro Texas Roadhouse will be sandwiched between the Grotto Pizza restaurant/sports bar, also currently being built, and Taco Bell.

The Millsboro location will offer several hundred employment opportunities.
“We will bring 215 new jobs to Millsboro (60% part time, 40% full time). Monday, March 1, the restaurant begins hiring for all full- and part-time positions,” said Ms. Norton.

Those interested in employment should apply here, she said.

At 7,600 square feet, the Millsboro restaurant is slightly larger than the standard Texas Roadhouse model. “We can seat approximately 300 guests,” said Ms. Norton.

The Millsboro eatery will be open for dinner only Mondays through Thursdays from 4-10 and Fridays, 4-11. Lunch and dinner will be available Saturdays from noon-11 and Sundays from 11-9.

Texas Roadhouse checks off one request that surfaced in a survey conducted by the town of Millsboro several years ago.

“We did a survey, and as far as sit-down restaurants, the two subcategories we got were steakhouse and sports bar,” said Millsboro Town Manager Sheldon Hudson. “So to me, Texas Roadhouse checks off the steakhouse, and Grotto checks the sports bar. Now, that is not to say we won’t keep trying to recruit more. I think there is still demand for even more in the way of sit-down restaurants, but I think this is a really solid start to adding to our repertoire of restaurants.”

The Grotto construction is progressing with speculation of a late-March opening, Mr. Hudson said.

Ms. Norton offered a taste of what patrons can experience at the steakhouse.

“Texas Roadhouse is a full-service, casual-dining concept known for its hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs and comfortable, down-home atmosphere. The menu also features an assortment of ribs, chicken, salads, hamburgers and vegetables,” she said. “Most selections include two made-from-scratch side items, and you can always count on fresh-baked bread with honey cinnamon butter.”

The Millsboro location will be the fifth Texas Roadhouse in Delaware, joining those in Seaford, Bear, Camden and Middletown.

With headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, the company’s first restaurant was founded across the Ohio River in nearby Clarksville, Indiana, in 1993. Since that opening, Texas Roadhouse has grown to more than 611 locations in 49 states and 28 international locations in 10 foreign countries.