News Release
Hardships of the pandemic resulted in changes to the restaurant landscape across the globe. Closures to independent and national brands for retail and restaurant services continue to happen nationwide and North Platte has seen its own this past year.
Contrary to shuttering, Wilkinson Development announced this week that the company is working to create two new food options in North Platte for 2021. Pepperjax Grill has signed to lease the space in the new Fat Dogs Travel Center & Convenience Store next to McDonald’s on Dewey Street in North Platte at 1313 South Dewey Street. Pepperjax is owned and operated by Weis Properties and Pepperjax Development out of Kearney, Nebraska. Pepperjax in North Platte will be the 32nd location.
Pepperjax is known for its flattop grill sandwiches with all the fixings. More about the brand can be found online at https://pepperjaxgrill.com. Wilkinson’s designed the site with a drive‐thru for the restaurant which Weis identified as an important contributor during the pandemic for his company. Both the C‐store and Pepperjax are slated to open the second quarter of 2021.
Also in motion, Wilkinson Development will be opening a large-scale, full-service restaurant and bar designed for casual dining with quick‐express service options. The newest trends in restaurants and bars will be implemented. The restaurant will be located at the Holiday Inn Express in North Platte at 300 Holiday Frontage Rd.
“Our owners understand that changes are essential to ensure we continue to stay competitive and at our hotel sites there are a lot of opportunities for additional amenities,” stated Clarine Eickhoff, COO of Wilkinson Companies.
“We have seen a drastic change to the meeting and venue environment in 2020 and with unknown timelines and altered meeting habits, we anticipate the decline in business will continue going forward. As a company, we want to make sure we offer what customers need and want while traveling and staying at our hotels. North Platte has needed an establishment like the one we are proposing cushioned next to the many hotels south of the interstate. Our company is positioned to make that happen,” added Eickhoff.
The Holiday Inn Express will no longer tag the space as a Conference Center as limited small meeting space will remain. The company is working through the trademark process at this time and further details of the restaurant and the name will be announced at a later date. Wilkinson’s will own and operate the restaurant as an independent, locally-owned employer. We have operated the Conference Center for 20 years serving our local customers. We know that when we are open for business everyone will enjoy a relaxing atmosphere with plenty of TVs and outdoor patio with quality service.
Catering services will continue to be offered at the Best Western Plus and other North Platte venues as the existing catering kitchen at the Holiday Inn Express will remain. A full versatile kitchen is being added to support the new restaurant so it is business as usual for the catering team. If all goes as planned, the restaurant will open by summer 2021. Additional construction updates and job offerings will be posted to Wilkinson Development’s Facebook page as things progress.