Southern-California based Jack in the Box opened its first Ohio location in West Chester Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and special giveaways. People lined up to among the first to get in, while others created a traffic jam trying to get in line for the drive-thru. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.
Eric Gibbons moved from California at a very young age and he is sure he has eaten at Jack in the Box before, but can’t remember what it tastes like.
To find out, Gibbons decided to among the first to eat at the fast-food chain’s first location in Ohio, when Jack in the Box celebrated the grand opening of its West Chester restaurant Monday morning.
Gibbons of Springboro was among the many in line, which wrapped around the restaurant prior to the opening, who was there for a special reason.
Also among the crowd was Aaron Hildebrand, his wife Amy and their two children. Aaron had grown to like Jack in Box while spending time in San Diego and Los Angeles. And on a recent family trip to Houston, their five-year-old Jude tried and loved the chain’s burgers.
Ever since, Jude has made his parents drive by during construction of the West Chester restaurant – pointing out updates – anxiously waiting for it to open.
Bernard Staples of West Chester plays cornhole for a chance to win prizes during the grand opening celebration of the first Jack in the Box location in Ohio. Photo taken Sept. 17, 2012 by Adam Kiefaber.
“It was really exciting for him,” Aaron said. “He would say, ‘oh man, they put the sign up’ or ‘oh my gosh, they have benches out.’”
At times, prior to the opening, Jude’s parents had to convince him that construction workers were just taking a lunch break and food is not being served yet.
Jude said that his favorite things are the hamburgers and cheeseburgers. Meanwhile, his dad likes the milkshakes and said, “There is something about those tacos.”
He is not the only one who likes the tacos, which are 99 cents for a pair. According to Sean Lockovich, who is a regional marketing manager with Jack in the Box, the tacos and the all-day full menu (customers can order breakfast at night or a burger in the morning) are the main reasons people flock in the restaurant.
“People come in and want to order, 30, 60, 100 tacos in the drive-thru,” Lockovich said. “It is pretty impressive.”
It didn’t take 100 tacos to back up the drive-thru on Monday, as cars clogged the Tylersville Road exit off I-75 before the restaurant even opened.
If you wanted to go to the restaurant today or avoid the traffic, the West Chester location, 7425 Tylersville Road, is located off I-75 (off the Tylersville exit), in an old gas station lot that is directly next to a Long John Silver’s. The restaurant features 24/7 drive-thru and dining-room service.
In addition to that location, Jack in the Box is planning to open its second restaurant in Cincinnati at 5234 Ridge Ave. across the street from Burlington Coat Factory, off I-71. That location is projected to open in mid-October.
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