Howard Greninger
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Denny’s restaurant, a few blocks south of the Vigo County Courthouse on Third Street, may soon be replaced with a new building, public records show.
B.R. Associates Inc. last week filed for state construction design approval for a new 4,889-square-foot building, according to records with Building Safety/Services, a division of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. The new one-story building will be at the same location as the current restaurant at 233 S. Third St.
The existing building, with a seating capacity of 161, was constructed in 1976, according to county property records.
The new building is to have a seating capacity of 164 people, according to state records.
Mustang Scott, an assistant manager at the restaurant, said employees have been told they can transfer to work at other B.R. Associates or Sidal franchise stores once construction begins. Those stores include a Denny’s on Terre Haute’s south side, plus at least three Wendy’s, three Rally’s and two Long John Silver’s restaurants. Employees have not been given a time that the restaurant will close for construction.
Two telephone calls were left Wednesday seeking comment from Robert L. Ruckriegel, owner of B.R. Associates, based in Jasper. Some Terre Haute restaurants, including Taco Casita, are listed with Ruckriegel under other names, such as LV Associates LLC, county property records show.
B.R. Associates Inc. is a leading franchisee of Long John Silver’s restaurants, with about 100 locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan, according to Hoover’s Inc., a business research company. B.R. Associates also operates several Wendy’s franchise restaurants and a handful of Denny’s and Grandy’s family restaurants, plus a Days Inn and the Jasper 8 Cinema in Jasper, according to Hoover’s.
Robert Ruckriegel’s son, Al Ruckriegel, owns The Ohio Building in Terre Haute. Al Ruckriegel and his brother, Sid Ruckriegel, operate about 130 Rally’s and Papa John’s franchise restaurants through their affiliated company, Sidal.
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
