For those who dig plenty of atmosphere and fun in their restaurants, the opening of Quaker Steak & Lube next week should light up on the radar.
The Lube will open September 12 at 3 p.m., but will be open on a daily basis for lunch, dinner and late night after that. I was given a sneak peek at the inside of Quaker Steak & Lube over the weekend and, though I knew they were going to go the extra mile to give it a distinct automotive and motor sports feel, I was actually a little awe struck.
- The race car hanging upside down from the ceiling is not a cheesy race car replica. It's a race car.
- The Harleys rotating in mid-air near the bar, well, they're Harleys. In fact, market manager Kevin Huffines told me they were given to the store by Harley-Davidson and other The Lube restaurants have actually helped Harley sell the bikes.
- General Manager Shawn Dunham told me The Lube would have a ton of televisions, including a few 70-inch screens. He wasn't exaggerating. TV's everywhere.
- The garage bar, which features indoor or outdoor seating depending on the weather, is going to be a hip area to hang out. The garage doors make it the restaurant version of a retractable-roof stadium, so it will always be comfortable.
I've also been told The Lube will have NFL Sunday Ticket, so it's the place to see any NFL game that piques your interest. The same probably goes for any other sport. In addition to that, Huffines said The Lube is planning monthly giveaways of NFL replica jerseys and other sports memorabilia.
