Walla Walla had a Denny’s open on Chestnut Street on October 1st, about a year after Shari’s abruptly closed without any official notice on the matter. This is the first time the restaurant has had a location in Walla Walla. This has been quite an anticipated opening for a while, as Walla Walla lacks a large amount of more commonplace restaurant chains.
If you have been driving near the intersection on Chestnut Street, you’ve likely noticed that Shari’s has been out of business for almost a year. This is where the Denny’s was built, which just opened its doors in Walla Walla on October 1st, 2024. Denny’s is a chain restaurant focused on serving American breakfast foods. This is a wonderful development for Walla Walla, because the city lacked a Denny’s previous to this opening; the restaurant chain is known for its support of the communities it finds itself in. The owner of Feast Properties, Ben Eramya, and a construction arm overseeing Denny’s has reportedly stated to a Union Bulletin member that this opening will bring about fifty new jobs to Walla Walla. The restaurant is also reportedly a good option for bringing support, charities, and opportunities in the area. Eramya has stated that he also oversees the Walla Walla Jack in the Box and has referred to Walla Walla as a wonderful community.
Furthering this sense of community, the WA-HI band accompanied the ribbon cutting ceremony, playing music. The band members were invited by the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce to play at the Denny’s Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting event, which was held on September 30th, from 4:00-4:30 PM. They had been working hard early that school year to learn the 30-minute set of pep songs they played for the Denny’s staff and corporate officials during the event. Then, the band was thanked and the ribbon cutting proceeded. The students who came back after transporting their instruments and equipment back to WA-HI were fed for free. While the ribbon cutting had been finished, the restaurant itself wouldn’t open until 9:00 AM the next morning.
While it seems like an event of this caliber would be difficult this early in the year, the band already has a lot of parades and football games to learn songs for, so they’re used to the time window.
Mr. Ueckert, the band teacher, stated that the students had fun and he appreciated the opportunity to help with the atmosphere and excitement of the ribbon cutting.
The Walla Walla community is tightly knit, but the support we can show each other in our endeavors can be magical every once in a while. The restaurant is now open and the ribbon cutting was a success; the estimated fifty new jobs created by this opening will no doubt help fill the gaps of the jobs lost after the Shari’s closing down and present opportunities for the Walla Walla community in the future. Overall, the celebratory gathering at Denny’s signifies Walla Walla’s eagerness for and embracement of new opportunities – like the opening of Denny’s – which will no doubt leave a lasting legacy on the hearts and history of the community and everyone who calls Walla Walla home.
Cited sources:
McIntyre, Hannah. “Shari’s Cafes & Pies on Chestnut Street Permanently Closes.” Union Bulletin, 16, May. 2023.
