Chili's will open Monday in new Marshall Square center

The first business in Marshall Square will be open and ready to serve customers Monday.

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Chili's Grill and Bar, at Evans Town Center Boulevard and Ronald Reagan Drive, is in the front section of the 47-acre development.

"Once the retail comes or apartments or whatever ends up in that area, we feel like that'll just be an added bonus for us," said Greg Cyrier, the president and CEO of Bonnaroo Restaurant Group, a Chili's franchise partner. "We're pleased with the surrounding area as it is."

The Southwestern-style res-taurant specializes in grilled items, including baby back ribs, steaks, fajitas and "Big Mouth Burgers," said Cyrier. Customers can order drinks from a fully stocked bar.

Cyrier said the menu offers distinct food choices.

"We feel like our restaurant brings a little something different to the area," he said.

The restaurant will offer curb-side service for those placing to-go orders.

Because it is in a new building, Chili's will benefit from modern design concepts.

The 5,000-square-foot restaurant will feature a 700-square-foot outdoor covered patio with 40-foot ceilings and additional booth seating, Cyrier said.

"There's just some different design elements that Chili's has evolved a little over the years," he said.

The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. until midnight Friday through Saturday.

Early and late happy hour drink specials will be offered.

"We like to have a place that people can count on to still come visit late night," Cyrier said.

He said the company has been looking at Evans for many years. The area, he said, fits its profile in that it has a high number of families, businesses and residents out and about during daytime hours.

This will be the 22nd Chili's restaurant in Georgia and South Carolina opened by Bonnarro, which has headquarters in Athens, Ga.

Though Chili's will be the first establishment in Marshall Square, developers recently unveiled a plan to separate residential units from retail buildings and eliminate a high-rise tower on the site.

The matter was tabled by the Columbia County Planning Commission in February but will be reviewed again April 16.

For information about Chili's, visit www.eatchilis.com. To place a to-go order, call (706) 860-3464.