Oswego LongHorn Steakhouse breaks ground, to open Aug. 14

Oswego residents and elected officials munched on steak, macaroni and cheese, and roasted broccoli under a tent Thursday afternoon during a groundbreaking ceremony for the new LongHorn Steakhouse.

The 5,640-square foot restaurant with seating for more than 200 patrons is anticipated to open Aug. 14 at 2650 Route 34 in Oswego, between the Panda Express restaurant and the Fifth Third Bank, in front of the Best Buy store.

The steakhouse is the first full-service sit-down restaurant to be built in Oswego in 10 years, according to Village Administrator Daniel Di Santo. The last such restaurant was the nearby Olive Garden, which, like LongHorn Steakhouse, is owned and operated by Florida-based Darden Restaurants.

Village President Gail Johnson, Village Board members Pam Parr, Judy Sollinger, Karin McCarthy-Lange, Luis Perez, and Joe West, and Oswego Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Angie Hibben were among those who attended the groundbreaking.

LongHorn Steakhouse Director of Operations Kerri Ressmeyer and the restaurant's Managing Partner Whitney Halcomb were also present at the event.

Halcomb noted that the company gives leftover food to community organizations and participates in youth job programs. She said the restaurant is expected to bring 70 to 80 new jobs to the area.

Johnson said the community will benefit from having such a company in the community.

"It's the first full-service restaurant in 10 years, a national chain, they're going to be an awesome community partner," Johnson said. "When we hear a company talk like that, that's really exciting, because then we know our school groups benefit from it, our community benefits from it, and we know it will be a draw for years to come."

Johnson said it will be another addition to the thriving Route 34 retail corridor in town.

"This corridor has sustained us," she said. "The sales tax dollars that come out of here are always good, we want to keep that fresh. When you get a new restaurant, it helps with that. People go to dinner, then they head over to Best Buy or other stores."

Sollinger said a steakhouse is something the community has been wanting for years.

"We have been wanting a steakhouse for such a long time," she said. "This is awesome, and we're so excited to have them here. It's outstanding."

Parr added, "Even people who aren't beef eaters should love the fact that this is going to be here."