Jay
09-09-2008, 03:32 PM
Tom Hughes, owner of J.P. Henry's, said turns in the economy always impact the restaurant business.
''When the price of gas is over $4 (a gallon), you notice people changing their spending habits,'' he said. ''(The gas prices) have affected people's disposable income. Everyone has to eat, but ordering things like filet steaks and lobsters has become luxury items versus the daily norm.''
Since the gas prices have dipped below $4 a gallon, Hughes said their daily counts are coming back up.
J.P. Henry's will be introducing a new menu in the next week that focuses more on casual dining and items $10 or below.
''We are scaling down to a more casual concept,'' Hughes said of the menu which will focus more on 16 gourmet burgers, flatbread pizzas, a dozen type of chicken wings and other items suited to the more casual diner.
J.P. Henry's is also entering into a partnership with Lui Lui's restaurant where Lui Lui's will make all the sauces and marinades for the burgers and wings.
''We are working to help support our fellow independent restaurants,'' Hughes said.
The restaurant is also trying to appeal more to people coming out to enjoy televised football games on the weekend with their regular West Virginia University Mountaineer football days on Saturdays and the restaurant will now be open Sundays for NFL football. The restaurant has purchased a number of television sets and now has 12 plasma screen TVs and 40 televisions. The restaurant has also purchased some pool tables, a table shuffleboard game and more to give people more to do.
''We want to accommodate the person who wants to come in and have a sandwich and watch part of a football game,'' Hughes said. ''We still get our best crowds for Mountaineer football games.''
''When the price of gas is over $4 (a gallon), you notice people changing their spending habits,'' he said. ''(The gas prices) have affected people's disposable income. Everyone has to eat, but ordering things like filet steaks and lobsters has become luxury items versus the daily norm.''
Since the gas prices have dipped below $4 a gallon, Hughes said their daily counts are coming back up.
J.P. Henry's will be introducing a new menu in the next week that focuses more on casual dining and items $10 or below.
''We are scaling down to a more casual concept,'' Hughes said of the menu which will focus more on 16 gourmet burgers, flatbread pizzas, a dozen type of chicken wings and other items suited to the more casual diner.
J.P. Henry's is also entering into a partnership with Lui Lui's restaurant where Lui Lui's will make all the sauces and marinades for the burgers and wings.
''We are working to help support our fellow independent restaurants,'' Hughes said.
The restaurant is also trying to appeal more to people coming out to enjoy televised football games on the weekend with their regular West Virginia University Mountaineer football days on Saturdays and the restaurant will now be open Sundays for NFL football. The restaurant has purchased a number of television sets and now has 12 plasma screen TVs and 40 televisions. The restaurant has also purchased some pool tables, a table shuffleboard game and more to give people more to do.
''We want to accommodate the person who wants to come in and have a sandwich and watch part of a football game,'' Hughes said. ''We still get our best crowds for Mountaineer football games.''