SPARTANBURG, S.C – Denny’s Corporation has opened its first Denny’s Café location, marking the first fast-casual restaurant for the company. Denny’s Café offers a smaller version of the traditional Denny’s experience that caters to guests with a more streamlined menu, counter-service ordering and a smaller real estate footprint that allows for easier entrance into urban, more densely populated markets.

The opening of the first Denny’s Café location took place on Nov. 12 in Orange, Calif. Denny’s Café leverages the traditional Denny’s brand image to offer diners the same family restaurant experience in a setting that provides a faster service model, where guests will be able to order from menu boards at the counter, select their table and have the food delivered directly to them. Denny’s Café features a more abbreviated menu, offering most of the traditional menu items found at Denny’s, including the ‘$2 $4 $6 $8’ value menu.


“We saw a unique opportunity to continue growing the Denny’s brand in markets where our full-size traditional restaurant does not fit due to real estate size constraints,” said Steve Dunn, vice president, development. “The Denny’s brand has a strong following and Denny’s Café allows us to leverage our expertise by offering a similar concept that is more compatible with the real estate opportunities available to us in many desirable markets.”

The second Denny’s Café is expected to open in Livermore, Calif. in December 2010. Both locations will be company-owned restaurants. Denny’s Café locations will seat 75 to 90 guests and will be approximately 3,000 square feet in size. The restaurant will operate between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily.