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Published: Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 / Updated: Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 02:04 PM

Waffle House to open Thursday in Lake Wylie

LAKE WYLIE -- 

Starting Thursday, the refrigerator and microwave are going to have a little competition for the midnight craving market.

That’s when Lake Wylie’s Waffle House will open, offering round-the-clock dining at 5013 Charlotte Hwy.

“Like all Waffle House restaurants, it will be open 24 hours a day,” said Kelly Thrasher, spokesperson for the Georgia-based company.

Rod Stover, area manager for the store, said last week that there were still wait staff and grill operator positions available for all shifts.

Stover expects the store to employ perhaps 55 people among all shifts. As for the experience at the new store, Stover said anyone having dined at another Waffle House location can expect something similar in Lake Wylie.

“They all operate under the same yellow sign,” he said.

The Waffle House menu of course includes waffles, but also a variety of breakfast items, sandwiches, burgers, salads and steaks. Perhaps the biggest draw to the new store should be the hours, offering late-night eating without need of a drive-thru and a sit-down meal at any hour.

“We’re 24 hours a day, seven days a week – never, ever closed,” Stover said.

Stover expected the doors to open Thursday at 10 a.m.

The new location is another sign of good times for the restaurant industry, where several local businesses say traffic is picking up compared to the past couple of years.

One such restaurateur is Jose Ayala, owner of Rey Azteca.

On Wednesday he opened a second location, Azteca Grill, in Shoppes at the Landing.

Ayala expects a heavier lunch than dinner scene at Azteca Grill.

“It seems to be ok,” he said of traffic to the store.

“We were a little nervous because this was something new.”

Ayala will employ five to eight people at the former frozen custard shop and coffee shop location. He’s still waiting on a liquor license, but his menu is up and ready. As is, he said, the Lake Wylie community.

“Everything is getting back and rolling,” Ayala said.