Waldo’s Chicken & Beer, Louisville-based Endeavor Restaurant Group’s latest venture, is slated to open in Norton Commons in the spring of 2022.
The restaurant, which has locations in Tennessee and Oklahoma, is known for its Southern-style fried and fire-roasted chicken. It will feature a full bar with more than 20 on-tap beers and an array of homemade sauces and sides.
The 4100-square-foot space, at 10700 Meeting Street in Prospect, is being designed and constructed by Miranda Construction.
Nothing has ever been in the location before, so Steve Ritchie, founder and CEO of the Endeavor Restaurant Group, said Waldo’s would be a full build out. They don’t yet have a total on investment costs.
The Norton Commons location will have a more elevated design, with a larger bar and televisions to create a sports bar feeling.
It will utilize a blended-service model, where patrons can either order at the counter or have full service in a traditional dining setting. Waldo’s is expected to employ 25-35 people.
Ritchie said as a resident of Louisville’s northeast side, he’d been interested in the development of Norton Commons. With more restaurants moving in, he said he sees the neighborhood as a thriving destination, with more patrons coming to the area to dine.
Ritchie, who was previously president and CEO of Papa John’s, said when he started the Endeavor Restaurant Group, he sought after restaurants that focused on quality food with a unique concept.
“I think that’s one of the niches that we’re finding with Endeavor, which I did learn at Papa John’s: High quality products, [and] the integrity of the ingredients matters,” Ritchie said.
The Endeavor Group also consists of all five LouVino Restaurant and Wine Bars as well as Big Bad Breakfast, a restaurant expected to open in the old Lynn’s Paradise Cafe location in early 2022.
Ritchie expects both Waldo’s and Big Bad Breakfast to have high growth potential, with breakfast and chicken restaurant concepts in high demand. He sees both restaurants potentially opening additional locations in Louisville.
“Endeavor was created with high aspirations for growth for all of the brands that we would partner with or acquire,” Ritchie said.
Endeavor Ritchie said due to supply chain issues, building new restaurants right now is a challenge. But his group hasn’t seen issues with retaining workers. The group is in the process of finding additional locations for Big Bad Breakfast.
Endeavor appointed new officers to its executive team in July to support its expansion plans. Edmond Heelan and Billy Higdon were hired as chief operations officer and chief financial officer, respectively.
