< Back | Home

Buffalo Wild Wings, located on East Jackson in front of Wal-Mart, will giv residents of Macomb one more choice when eating out.

New year brings new food choices

By: Feana Kotter

Posted: 1/14/08

Soon Macomb's craving for a new major restaurant will be satisfied.

Buffalo Wild Wings is weeks away from opening on the east side of town and quieting the perpetual cries of Western Illinois University students for something new.

The tentative opening date for the restaurant is Feb. 24. Prior to that, manager Jesse Slupianek said more employees will be hired and construction will continue. Training for the new employees will begin Feb. 17, and applications are still being accepted.

Construction on the new restaurant has been unpredictable, however. A delayed order of steel caused a temporary halt on progress, followed by several inches of snow. Slupianek said waiting for the steel pushed the completion date back, but the uncooperative winter conditions were harder to surmount.

"Weather pushed us back a little bit more," he said.

Despite the construction woes, Slupianek said hiring for the new restaurant is ahead of schedule. He hopes to have a staff of 120 full- and part-time employees. Forty-six people have been hired so far.

"We have a long way to go," he said.

Manager William Havener agreed but said people in Macomb are eager for Buffalo Wild Wings to open.

"I've been mobbed a few times by people," he said.

Once the doors open, Slupianek said he expects a positive reaction.

"I plan on having a good opening," he said. "We'll do fine."

There will be some incentive to being the first customers through the door. Slupianek said the first 100 people to enter the restaurant will receive free chicken wings for one year. He said people have lined up outside Buffalo Wild Wings in other locations two days prior to opening to have a chance at getting free wings for a year.

Havener offered some advice to those who may do the same here.

"Wear warm clothing," he said.

In addition to the menu, the restaurant will offer Buzz Time trivia, a complete television sports package and a full bar with 20 beers on tap. A banquet room that can accommodate 80 people will be available for larger groups as well.

Slupianek said he thinks people will come to the restaurant for not only the name but also the food and atmosphere.

"I think that alone will stand out," he said.

IL SPAZIO OPENS DOORS

Il Spazio, an Italian bistro featuring a wide variety of meals and appetizers, has been serving patrons a wide variety of meals and appetizers, has been serving patrons for more than a month. Despite the absence of a grand opening, manager Nate Zier said the soft opening was successful.

"It went really well," he said. "Business is good."

Zier said Il Spazio's most popular appetizer has been the bruschetta. The dish was a late addition to the menu at the restaurant's Kirksville, Mo., location but is selling well here. He accredits the success of the dish to the people in Macomb.

"It's the tastes of people in town … and a willingness to try something different," he said.

Il Spazio does not only serve dinner, however. According to Zier, the restaurant's coffee shop opens at 7 a.m. and features breakfast items like quiche and homemade bagels.

The restaurant's hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.