7th LongHorn Steakhouse to open at Hyatt Place Manatí
Jorge Colón-Gerena (Credit: © Mauricio Pascual)
Executives from the LongHorn Steakhouse chain announced Wednesday plans to open its seventh restaurant in Puerto Rico, at the Hyatt Place Manatí & Casino Atlántico, currently in its final stage of construction.
This restaurant represents an investment of more than $2 million, and will create more than 160 direct and 30 indirect jobs in its stage of development, construction and operations. Its opening is scheduled for the second quarter of next year, said Jorge Colón-Gerena, CEO of Restaurant Operations Inc., franchise owner of the LongHorn Steakhouse chain on the island.
During a meeting with reporters, the executive said joining the hotel and casino venture “reflects the growth and acceptance that the brand has in Puerto Rico. Our presence in Manatí and the north central region makes our gastronomic offer available to local residents, as well as business, medical tourism, entertainment and leisure tourists. We share the spirit and commitment of the Hyatt chain to contribute to the island’s economic development.”
LongHorn Steakhouse at the Hyatt Place Manati & Casino Atlantic is a freestanding location with seating capacity for 252 people in its 7,000 square-foot dining area, one of the chain’s largest restaurants and the first located within the hotel complex, he said.
“When we were considering locations as part of our expansion plan, this project [in Manatí] caught out attention. This type of partnership brings to light the importance of developers giving an opportunity to look at their projects,” Colón-Gerena said. “This location in itself would have been good for a restaurant along, but vastly superior when you add a hotel and casino.”
Meanwhile, Federico Stubbe, president of PRISA Group, one of the Hyatt Place Manatí & Casino Atlántico developers, said adding the LongHorn restaurant boosts the hotel’s offerings.
Federico Stubbe offers an update of the Manatí property currently under development. (Credit: © Mauricio Pascual)
“The strategic location of the new hotel, near hospitals, academic institutions and other industries with easy access from the highway, is an indisputable key to success for the property,” said Stubbe. “The hotel is being developed to meet the diverse needs of the area, becoming an important catalytic element for the northern region’s transformation as a great destination. Both projects represent a vote of confidence to the growth potential of the region.”
The new Hyatt Place Manati & Casino will be a 104-room, five-story structure spanning about 5 acres, including a 14,000 square-foot casino and 355 parking spaces. The project will generate 531 new direct, indirect and induced jobs during construction and operation.
Aside from investing in a new LongHorn Steakhouse location, Restaurant Operations Inc. is also developing a second Applebee’s restaurant in Bayamón, slated to open in December, at a cost of $2 million.
The restaurant, which will generate 135 jobs, will be joined by Puerto Rico’s first Olive Garden restaurant and a second Famous Dave’s location, which are scheduled to open during the second quarter of 2014, Colón-Gerena confirmed.
