Strong first week for J.R. Crickets: New Broad Street eatery reports daily traffic of about 150 diners

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By Sarah O’Carroll for Hometown Headlines

Despite having had only a soft opening, J.R. Crickets reports a bustling business for its first week of operation at 201 Broad St.

Since attracting nearly 200 diners the first day of business on Saturday, Jan. 9, the chicken specialist is seeing about 150 people come in per day, according to local operator Drew Montgomery.

“Business has been great,” Montgomery says. “We’ve had a packed house each day so far.”

Montgomery was born and raised in Rome, but now commutes to the restaurant daily from Atlanta, where he has lived for the past decade. The original J.R. Crickets opened in Atlanta over 30 years ago and now has seven locations in metro Atlanta. The Rome restaurant is the chain’s first outside the metro area.

Montgomery says that having grown up loving the chain, he wanted to bring those positive experiences back to his hometown.

“I thought Rome needed this restaurant,” he says. “I love the vibe, and I want to keep that tradition of consistency, speed and great food going.”

A diverse menu

Montgomery says that the restaurant is famous for its wings and Southern specialties such as chicken and waffles. The menu also features healthy options such as salads and chicken wraps.

“There really is something for everybody,” he says.

The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. daily and closes at 2 a.m. Montgomery says that his J.R. Crickets location offers a 10 percent discount on meals to nurses and doctors, public officials, police and military, both active duty and veterans.

“Those are the kinds of people that I don’t think we thank enough,” Montgomery says. “This is our small way of giving back.”

J.R. Crickets becomes the latest on what has become a hot block of downtown Rome in terms of eateries. Home to Harvest Moon, the Dark Side of the Moon, Johnny’s New York Style Pizza, Mellow Mushroom and Curlee’s Fish House & Oyster Bar.

For more information, call (706) 234-6636.