In Douglas, officials confirmed today LongHorn Steakhouse is planting its hooves in Coffee County. In an announcement that's got local taste buds primed and ready, city and county leaders disclosed that a new 5,280-square-foot location will break ground in Douglas Square on the site of the current Board of Education office. The new establishment is expected to start construction in March this year, with doors swinging open to hungry patrons later in 2024.

"Encouraging new development and business recruitment is an important part of growing our economy," Mayor Tony Paulk enthused in a statement obtained by the City of Douglas. With a projected seating capacity for over 180 guests.

The rise of a a new LongHorn Steakhouse comes not as a standalone project but as part of greater economic expansion, triggered by partnerships and policies such as the tax allocation district. Charles Davis, City Manager of Douglas, highlighted the ripple effects of such initiatives: “The trickle-down effect of the passage of the tax allocation district is happening throughout our community. Restaurants are renovating, businesses are relocating and expanding, and it is a pivotal time of growth for Douglas and Coffee County.” Davis noted.

The chain, which began as a single restaurant in Atlanta in 1981, now boasts more than 500 locations.