Denny’s brings variety to Panola Road in South DeKalb

You can now dine around the clock at the new Denny’s restaurant located at 2657 Panola Road in Lithonia. Denny’s held its soft grand opening on Sept. 7-8, treating customers to free hotcakes.

Franchisee owner Donnell Thompson says he is excited about the new location because it offers patrons a sit-down restaurant on Panola Road. In January 2015, Thompson, who is president of RWDT Foods, Inc., opened a location in Snellville and he plans to open a Denny’s on Fulton Industrial Boulevard in Atlanta. The Lithonia Denny’s is Thompson’s 11^th location. Thompson, a former NFL defensive end for the Baltimore (now Indianapolis Colts), has Denny’s restaurants in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

“We just changed our batter and our hotcakes are fantastic,” said Thompson, adding that the 24-hour-a-day restaurant’s menu includes a variety of choices for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night fare seven days a week.

“Along with breakfast dishes, burgers and sandwiches, we have several different skillet dishes with vegetables—the Bourbon chicken skillet, for example, is outstanding. We have T-bone steaks, sirloin steaks, salmon, Tilapia. We even have pizza and spaghetti,” said Thompson.

“We have something for everyone at prices that are very affordable. We even have a $2 and $4 value menu. Seniors love dining at Denny’s because not only do we have a menu offering slightly smaller portions for them, we offer 15 percent for AARP members on top of those savings.”

Thompson said the goal is to attract customers who will dine at the restaurant at least two or three times a week.

“We make it so affordable, especially for seniors, that it’s cheaper for them to eat out than to buy groceries, cook and wash the dishes,” Thompson said.

A picture of President Barack Obama graces the entrance to the 6,000-square-foot Panola Road location. There’s also a picture of the African American trumpet player Louis Armstrong and others. Thompson said he wanted to capture images that reflect the community where the restaurant is located.

Thompson said the new Denny’s offers a meeting room that is available to those who buy their meals at the restaurant. For more information, call 470-268-6344.