From the Ground Up: Newk's Express Café

Owner/developer: DancoCafe LLC
General contractor: Horizon Construction LLC
Architect: Fleming Associates Architects PC (Memphis, Tenn.)
Engineers: Jamnu H. Tahiliani & Associates Inc. (Memphis, Tenn.), structural; Beaty Consulting Engineers LLC, civil; Depouw Engineering LLC (Germantown, Tenn.), electrical; and Barham Cain Mynatt Inc. (Cordova, Tenn.), mechanical and plumbing
Size: 4,800 square feet
Estimated cost: $1.2 million
Lender: BNA Bank (New Albany, Miss.)
Estimated completion date: March 24
Project description: Jackson, Miss.-based Newk’s Express Café is scheduled to make its Missouri debut in Springfield on April 2. Owner Daniel Garrett said he has plans to add a second Newk’s in Springfield, as well as locations in Columbia, Jefferson City and Joplin. Garrett said the eatery will offer oven-baked sandwiches, specialty soups and California-style pizza. Construction crews demolished a former El Chico Mexican restaurant on the site to build the Newk’s café, which will seat roughly 160 inside and another 25 on an outdoor patio, Garrett said. Newk’s was created by the founders of the Mississippi-based McAlister’s Deli franchise.

Send project info to bbrown@sbj.net.