Since early February, patrons on the Strip have had a new option to satisfy their late night cravings. A new location of Waffle House, located on University Boulevard between Crimson Cafe and Smoothie King, has had a steady flow of customers — many of them students — since its doors opened on February 6.
Restaurant manager Omar Dinkins has noticed a distinctly different atmosphere from other Waffle House locations.
“It’s different than your typical Waffle House. There are a lot more younger people here during the day,” Dinkins said. “So the attitude around this place is a lot more pleasant, and I think that has a lot to do with why people are happy to be here and why people keep coming back.”
Although the business has been open for only a short period of time, Dinkins has noticed a large and energetic late-night crowd, which is due mostly, he said, to the proximity of the Waffle House to the University of Alabama campus and many local bars.
“Nighttime is pretty exciting. I have a lot of fun when I work nights,” he said. “It’s really busy, with lots of kids coming in.”
While the restaurant’s location is convenient for students, limited parking on the Strip poses a challenge for customers who do not live within walking distance. Customers who frequented the McFarland Boulevard Waffle House, which has been torn down since the location on the Strip opened, have not been able to establish the same dining habits as a result.
“So many of those McFarland regulars don’t believe that they can come in and get a parking space so they don’t really come by very often,” Dinkins said. “We’ve lost a few of them from the old location because of that.”
They have not lost Radford Pruett, a local real estate agent for Prudential Pritchett Moore who has maintained his loyalty through the move.
“I used to go to the Waffle House on McFarland at least once a month,” Pruett said. “I don’t think that is going to change, because the good thing about Waffle House is it’s always going to be prepared the same, and you can always expect it to taste delicious.”
Dinkins said he hopes that the McFarland transplants and the new UA students regulars can help form a new cycle of regulars.
“We see a lot of new faces,” Dinkins said. “Everybody wants to come in and see the new store.”
Jake Murray, a senior majoring in business, has been a frequent customer at the 24-hour diner during the month it has been open.
“The new Waffle House is the best addition [to the Strip] I have seen in a long time,” Murray said. “I love the convenience of being able to walk from class, though I will say that I usually go there after the bars close, because it is one of the better places still selling food.”
William Caudell, a senior majoring in English, has also made several visits to the new Waffle House.
“When I heard a Waffle House was coming to the Strip, I knew I would be a frequent customer,” said Caudell. “It’s about time they smartened up and decided to put in something college kids are guaranteed to enjoy.”
-by Kellie Munts, Mari Johnson, Lynzee Birtsch and Hayden North
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