LongHorn Steakhouse set to open at College Mall this summer

College Mall-goers will have another choice when it comes to casual dining restaurants this summer. \nThe mall, which already features Applebee's and TGI Friday's restaurants, will welcome its third sit-down restaurant when LongHorn Steakhouse opens near the parking lot by Dick's Sporting Goods.\nThe restaurant is based in Atlanta and has about 240 locations nationwide. It is open every day for lunch and dinner and specializes in beef entrees. For those not interested in steak, the restaurant also features salads, chicken and a couple of salmon dishes. \nHarry Day, the marketing manager for LongHorn, was very enthusiastic about the restaurant's opening. \n"We have been looking for years to open in Bloomington and believe we have found prime real estate for this restaurant," he said. \nDay said LongHorn thrives in community involvement and thinks the same will happen in a community-oriented town like Bloomington.\n"Although we are a corporation, we do very good community marketing," Day said. "We do events for local schools and businesses all the time."\nDay also said LongHorn plans to offer prime customer service, and that he thinks with that the rest will be easy.\n"I think our service and food speaks for itself, and with that, I think all our customers will really enjoy it and come back again and again," he said.\nDespite the coming of more dining competition, TGI Friday's Manager Christina Frum seemed unfazed by LongHorn's opening.\n"(Longhorn) will create good variety and competition and allow Friday's to come up with more marketing strategies," Frum said.\nApplebee's Manager Scott Closs did not want to comment on LongHorn's arrival. \n"LongHorn Steakhouse will provide area residents with another outstanding dining experience while shopping at College Mall," said Dena Marietta, College Mall's director of marketing, in a press release.\nPatrick Walker, a mall patron who will be starting at IU this fall, said it would make his shopping experience more enjoyable.\n"It will definitely improve the variety at the mall, and I plan on eating there frequently," Walker said.