A new Denny's is on its way to 2651 N. Glenstone Ave. in Springfield, taking over the building that most recently housed Wings Etc. Grill & Pub, according to a commercial building permit filed with the city in early July 2026. The permit description states plainly that the building was previously a Wings Etc. and will be converted into a Denny's restaurant, marking the diner chain's second Springfield location.
The filing was first reported by the Springfield Daily Citizen, which reviewed city records showing the permit remains pending issuance and is still incomplete. The outlet's reporting indicates the new Denny's will target the Interstate 44 corridor, joining Springfield's existing Denny's at 4760 S. Campbell Ave. and another nearby Denny's location inside a TravelCenters of America truck stop in Strafford.
Property records cited in that reporting show the site last sold in July 2026, after previously being owned by Amani Investments Inc., a company registered to Deryl Brown Jr. of St. Louis. The property was appraised at $1.1 million ahead of the sale. The building itself measures just over 5,000 square feet, according to the same records — close to the 5,517-square-foot figure listed for the property on LoopNet, which also puts the parcel at 1.52 acres with 88 parking spaces along a stretch of Glenstone Avenue that sees roughly 64,706 vehicles a day near the interstate.
No Opening Date Yet From Corporate
Denny's corporate communications manager Colton Grace told the Springfield Daily Citizen on August 20 that he was looking into the timeline for the new location but had not, as of 10 a.m. the following day, provided an established opening date. Denny's media relations team had also received a voicemail requesting comment on August 20. The Springfield Daily Citizen says it will update its story when new information becomes available.
The Glenstone Avenue building has changed hands between national chains before. A Bob Evans restaurant previously operated at the site before closing, and the property was acquired by Robertson Real Estate Investments in December 2018, according to the Springfield Business Journal. Local franchisee Drew Robertson then opened Wings Etc. Grill & Pub at the address on August 13, 2019, as the Indiana-based sports bar chain's 72nd store nationwide, per Wings Etc.
Denny's has history in Springfield, too. Local historical archives cited by Springfield! Magazine mention a building along North Glenstone Avenue.
A Corridor Under Construction, and a Chain in Transition
The new Denny's would land in a commercial zone currently affected by state highway work. In May 2025, the Missouri Department of Transportation launched the Forward 44: Springfield Improvements project, bringing major traffic shifts and roadway construction to Interstate 44 near Glenstone Avenue, as Hoodline reported at the time.
The Springfield addition also arrives as Denny's Corp. works through a major corporate overhaul. The chain closed roughly 88 underperforming locations in 2024 and an estimated 70 to 90 more in 2025, part of a plan to shed low-volume stores, according to Nation's Restaurant News. At the same time, Denny's has been investing in updated store remodels.
Denny's Corp. has also been undergoing corporate changes. LoopNet listing data includes information about the Glenstone Avenue property. For now, Springfield diners will have to wait for a firm opening date before the new location starts serving up its Grand Slams on North Glenstone Avenue.
