Possible Denny's Location Gets Residents Talking

Last week, was eyeing a plot of land on Annapolis Road for a new franchise.

In Odenton, this was big news, as residents have been clamoring for more restaurant options as part of the development of the Odenton Town Center.

More than 180 people responded to a Patch poll asking if they would eat at Denny's, and more than 80 percent said they would dine there at least occasionally.

"I personally think their food is pretty good, and as long as they have a good manager in place, we're going to get a quality option for all meals in the Odenton area," reader Marc Riley wrote.

Residents said they like the idea of a new sit-down restaurant, but there also appeared to be a general lack of excitement over the restaurant chain. In short, residents wanted to know: "Can't we do better?"

"I was hoping for something a little more upscale," reader Susan Neal said on Facebook.

Ryan Stavely, another Odenton resident, wrote that Denny's was "not my first choice by a long shot," but said that "if we don't patronize the businesses that we have, they'll leave us with nothing. It'll certainly be a step up from a vacant lot."

Some residents also said they were concerned about the location of the proposed Denny's in Odenton, which would be adjacent to the Nichols-Bethel cemetary on Dare Road.

"Please respect the resting place or our friends and families," Margret Kaul wrote.

Denny's was founded in 1953 as a donut shop known as "Danny's Donuts" in Lakewood, CA. It expanded to 20 locations before changing its name to Denny's in 1959. It has become well-known for its inexpensive breakfasts, which are served at anytime of day.

In this area, Denny's has locations in Laurel and Hanover, and there are eight more restaurants within 25 miles.

Denny's is a public company, and was trading on the NASDAQ at $3.18 per share through Oct. 3. In the most recent fiscal quarter, it reported revenues of $135.9 million, an increase of about $800,000 from the same quarter last year. It had 1,665 restaurants and has opened more than 100 in the last year. About 85 percent of Denny's restaurants are franchise-owned.

In a 2011 survey by Zagat's, Denny's was rated to have the 4th-best breakfast among full-service chain restaurants, and the fifth-best coffee.