The Darden Restaurant Chain has been revamping their Longhorn Steakhouse image with a new building design and interiors.
The first of the new design Orlando locations, at 4695 St John’s Parkway, opened on Aug. 12 and is one of about 40 new LongHorn locations that opened across the country in 2013. It boasts a more contemporary look with a “welcome home” feel. “We’ve gone from roadhouse to ranch house,” said Juan Santiago, the location’s managing partner.
The second LongHorn location for the new design will be in a more high-profile area. After announcing a future International Drive location last month, LongHorn said it will join the $100 million I-Shops in early 2014.
“This [first] location introduces the new LongHorn to the [Sanford] neighborhood,” says Erica Jaeger, manager of media and communications for LongHorn Steakhouse. “The I-Drive location will introduce the new look to the world,” because it will be in a popular destination for millions of international tourists.
The I-Drive LongHorn will join a massive rollout of new eateries and attractions happening next year, including $200 million I-Drive Live complex, which will help bring more business — and tourists — to the I-Drive corridor, a major tourist destination in Orlando.
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