Dreyer’s and Dominoes are set to relocate to bigger locations by the end of the year and Wienerschnitzel is set to open a location outside of the A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport. These are just a few of the changes occurring at the restaurants on Guam.
The Dreyer’s located in the Agana Shopping Center will be moving from its kiosk and setting up shop in a commercial space near center court. Maria V. "Beck" Reyes ice cream supervisor for Unity Development Corp. which does business as Century Dreyer’s Ice Cream told the Journal that the new Dreyer’s location would be 650 square feet. Renovations to the new location began the first week of October and it is scheduled to open the first week of November.
The store will have six to eight tables with 24 chairs. Reyes said "We will be carrying a wider variety." The kiosk only served ice cream milk shakes smoothies and blasts but once Dreyer’s moves to its new location it will start serving parfaits sundaes crepes and a wider range of toppings. Dreyers will also expand its variety of ice cream to more than 30 flavors.
Reyes said the opening of the Tango Theatres at the Agana Shopping Center factored into the decision to expand to a bigger location. "Sooner or later the movie houses will be open at the Agana Shopping Center and SM [ShoeMart] is also opening there so that will be a good market."
Dreyer’s is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day but its hours could expand to accommodate customers going to later movies. Reyes said Dreyer’s was meeting with the Agana Shopping Center staff regarding the expansion of its hours to 10 p.m.
The new locations will have two to three employees manning each shift. About $40 000 to $50 000 was invested into the new location.
The Tamuning Domino’s will also be relocating to a new location. Jay A. Noble president of Denny’s of Guam which does business as Denny’s Domino’s Wienerschnitzel and Winchell’s; told the Journal that the Tamuning Winchell’s is being augmented to accommodate Domino’s. The two restaurants will be in the same building but will not be connected. Customers will have to exit one restaurant to access the other.
At 1 200 square feet the new Domino’s location is approximately the same size as the original location. It will offer take out and delivery but Noble said that like the Mangilao Winchell’s and Domino’s locations customers will be able to purchase a pizza at Domino’s and take it to Winchell’s order a beverage and eat there. The new location is scheduled for completion in November. Its normal business hours are from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekends and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays but Noble said because Winchell’s is open 24 hours Domino’s may change its hours of operation. About $150 000 was invested in constructing the new building and the purchase of equipment.
Noble said that a Weinerschnitzel will go into the old Domino’s location. There is a Wienerschnitzel located in the A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport but it is only accessible to customers arriving or departing Guam.
The Tamuning restaurant will be about 1 200 square feet and will have six to seven employees working there. There will be no seating in the restaurant. Noble said that it will be drive-thru only.
Wienerschnitzel serves a variety of hot dogs hamburgers and even breakfast items but Noble said the menu has not been finalized. Wienerschnitzel is scheduled for a first quarter 2007 opening.
On Oct. 9 Marianas Slingstone Inc. which does business as Proa Restaurant ;opened for business. Marianas Slingstone is comprised of four partners: Christopher F. Bejado president of Marianas Slingstone and director of hospitality for Proa; Mark L. Duenas treasurer of Marianas Slingstone and pastry chef for Proa; Geoffrey Perez secretary of Marianas Slingstone and executive chef for Proa; and Edward Cruz vice president of Marianas Slingstone.
Located in Tumon adjacent to the Guam Visitors Bureau Proa Restaurant serves what the partners like to call "Marianas regional cuisine" Bejado said "It’s what we’ve coined Marianas regional cuisine but not necessarily Chamorro food. You can call it Pacific Rim with Spanish and Chamorro influences."
The restaurant’s most popular dishes are the barbecued items and the banana fritters. The menu is still a work in progress and is subject to change. Dishes range in price from $7.95 to $12.95. He said "We wanted good tasting food at an affordable price."
Presentation is emphasized at Proa. "Geoffrey and Mark being chefs always pay attention to detail. Presentation is very important because you eat with your eyes too " he said.
For functions Proa has a private area that can seat about 12 people.
The 1 300 square-foot restaurant can seat 48 people and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and has about 20 employees.
Bejado told the Journal "Business has been phenomenal. The response has been very good."
In addition to the Proa Restaurant Marianas Slingstone will also open the Sweet Relief Pastry Shop next door. Sweet Relief is scheduled to open in December. The pastry shop will be about 700 square feet will have 10 to 12 employees and will be able to seat about 10 people. It will serve a variety of cakes ice creams sorbets and much more. Duenas said he plans to have at least 15 different types of desserts available at the shop. In addition to the desserts on the menu customers will also be able to order specialty cakes for special occasions.
Sweet Relief will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
A combined grand opening for the Proa Restaurant and Sweet Relief is scheduled for January. MBJ
