Airlink shifts to Web site design, development

|tab|

An increasing number of local restaurants are turning to the Internet to provide customers with more convenience and services when it comes to dining out or ordering in.|ret||ret||tab|

A new Web site at |bold_on|www.Quikdine.com, will allow consumers to view restaurant menus, place orders and even pay for their meals online.|ret||ret||tab|

Airlink Communications owner Randy Ruggeri came up with the idea for Quikdine.com.|ret||ret||tab|

He said the company, which formerly provided wireless communication services, is now shifting its focus to Web site design and development.|ret||ret||tab|

"The whole concept behind this was to mix the two popularities of the Internet the online ordering process and the restaurant business the pick-up orders," said Ruggeri. "We figured that they were a perfect match for each other."|ret||ret||tab|

Mr. Goodcents, Jade Pagoda, Market Place Cafe, Quizno's and Pizza Hut are among the dozen restaurants now featured on the site. Ruggeri predicts that more than 20 will be featured on the site by mid-October. |ret||ret||tab|

"What really got us going to pursue this aggressively was the extremely positive response from all of the restaurants," Ruggeri said.|ret||ret||tab|

He began surveying area restaurants two months ago.|ret||ret||tab|

"I was excited that somebody was bringing it to this market," said Steve Heil, owner of The Pasta House Company, one of the first restaurants on Quikdine.com.|ret||ret||tab|

Heil said that several other Web designers had recently approached him, but Ruggeri made him an offer he couldn't refuse. |ret||ret||tab|

"Randy sold me on the advertising," he said. "That's really what separated him from the others he's going to spend the money to make this work."|ret||ret||tab|

Ruggeri is teaming with Monarch Media to market Quikdine.com. He and the owner of Monarch Media, Darrin Raney, are working on creating television commercials, different promotions and possibly some radio spots. Ruggeri said that he would eventually like to register Quikdine.com with a search engine, so that when "Springfield dining" is searched, a link to his site will pop up.|ret||ret||tab|

Ruggeri said the site is not 100 percent functional right now. They are still in the early stages of development, so at the present, not all options are workable.|ret||ret||tab|

"We anticipate that it will be up and running in the next 30-45 days," Ruggeri said.|ret||ret||tab|

When the site is fully functional, it will allow the customer to search for a menu either by type of cuisine, restaurant name or zip code. |ret||ret||tab|

After previewing the menu, including that day's special, the individual can make a selection and choose to pick it up or have it delivered. For the restaurants that do not have delivery, Ruggeri would like to eventually contract a delivery service to provide it. |ret||ret||tab|

The order will then be faxed from the Web site to the restaurant. Ruggeri said he will offer pagers for the restaurants, which will go off when a faxed order comes through. This instant notification will help the restaurants during peak hours to give online customers prompt service. |ret||ret||tab|

Customers will also be able to find coupons and purchase gift certificates, as well as look at restaurant reviews and recipes. Another feature is a listing of employment opportunities at the member restaurants. Ruggeri said the restaurants have the option of which services they would like to participate in.|ret||ret||tab|

Sam DiGiacinto of DiGiacinto's Restaurant likes the recipe feature so much that he's talking with Ruggeri about a video camera in his kitchen to stream online video of him making a dish or pie. The customer can then purchase the special recipe and online video and make it at home. |ret||ret||tab|

Ruggeri plans to expand by placing his Web page in hotels across the nation and said Branson would be the first target area.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's just on the ground level now, but in five years the Web page might change the way people eat out," added Heil. "We (Pasta House Co. and Quikdine) plan on growing together."|ret||ret||tab|

"Our goal is to eventually take it nationwide, but we know we've got a lot of work in Springfield," Ruggeri said. "It is a good test market. We want to make it a place to go for the Springfield area to dine online."|ret||ret||tab|

[[In-content Ad]]