The arrival of football season means the likely arrival of another annual boom in business for Auburn eateries like Eddie’s Calzones, which is relocating to a lot on North College Street, down the sidewalk from Toomer’s Corner.
The proprietor and namesake of Eddie’s Calzone, Eddie Southworth, said he’s looking forward to transitioning.
“With the increased foot traffic all year round, I think it’ll be a more sustained, 12-month-a-year business rather than the seasonal semester-time business,” Southworth said.
While he noted the Auburn location of Eddie’s, one of three existing shops across the Southeast, has experienced success since its opening, Southworth said its biggest customer base is the late-night crowd. By moving, he hopes families and visitors to Auburn will be more inclined to eat at the restaurant during more idle times of year as a result of greater awareness of its presence downtown.
Southworth also mentioned the shop performs a “substantial number” of deliveries, and by having a more centralized space, there could be a higher potential for daytime diners.
The location is also aiming to be more sturdy to avoid instances of property damage, he said.
“We have a term in my line of work: you have to ‘drunk-proof’ everything” Southworth said. “You have to make things indestructible, everything from the doors, to the bathroom to the hinges on the door. People can be a little aggressive with things, and we’ve had to replace tables and chairs and booths and all that stuff.”
Though originally targeted to open on North College Street before the beginning of the semester, the restaurant encountered some delays early on. The new location, however, is expected to open within the next several weeks.
“We’re going to try to get everything over before the next football game,” Southworth said.
The West Glenn location will be closed for one to two days during the move, he said, adding the restaurant aims to have “as little layover” as possible with a 24-hour transition anticipated at most.
Their followers on social media can expect to be notified about an opening date. Eddie’s will retain its 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. schedule for both dine-in and delivery orders after the move is complete.
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