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Two years ago, Brett Austin opened the first Cactus Willies in a Bonanza that he formerly managed. Now, there are four locations of the all-you-can-eat steak buffet, and a fifth is in the works.
In addition, Austin is approaching big restaurant companies, hoping to find one that will help him take his concept national. He would not be specific about the details of his search, but he said there has been interest.
Austin would not disclose Cactus Willies' annual revenues. But he said about 40,000 people a week come to Willies restaurants for the all-you-can-eat sirloin steaks and grilled chicken.
"When we opened the first Cactus Willies, our Hanover location, we named it and designed it to have the appearance of a big franchise, corporate restaurant," Austin said. "Right now, we're moving in that direction."
Since opening the Hanover Cactus Willies in April 1997 in a former Bonanza restaurant building, Austin has opened a new Willies buffet every six months. The restaurants employ about 500 people.
Cactus Willies can now be found in Hanover and in Essex, Westminster and Glen Burnie, Md. There are plans to open a fifth in Shrewsbury, just south of York, in the spring of 2000, although Austin said he does not have a definite location yet.
He expects to spend more than $1.75 million on the new restaurant, which will be built, rather than leased, as Cactus Willies' other locations are.
"Opening our first was the hardest part. I needed financing to renovate the dining room, buy uniforms...