The Krystal Company announces the reopening of the Krystal restaurant located at 819 West Second Street in Tifton, Georgia after a complete “scrape and rebuild” that razed the existing building and replaced it with a new prototype. The redesigned restaurant, which is the first of its kind in Georgia, is scheduled to open for business on September 24 with a grand opening planned for Thursday, October 18. The project began on April 14, temporarily relocating existing employees to other Krystal locations and utilizing local contractors for the project. The Tifton Krystal was originally built in 1973.

“The Tifton redesign is part of a strategic initiative to improve the dining experience for our guests and adapt to changes in consumer behavior,” Krystal CEO Paul Macaluso explained. “We’re seeing more drive-through business, especially for late-night and breakfast. The drive-through design is built for speed and serviceability with a single window, expanded work zone and double drive-lane.”

The “Davenport” prototype pays tribute to Rody Davenport, Jr., a Krystal founder, long revered for his commitment to quality food and the guest experience. The 1,788 square-foot restaurant is made of three primary building materials – wood, metal and stucco – for ease of construction. The new kitchen and facilities layout maximizes efficiency and employee awareness.

Design elements include a vibrant color package highlighting the Krystal name in red, a heritage color for the brand. Architecturally, the building is both contemporary and nostalgic, with a full-glass front and a wood- framed open ceiling in the dining room. The building is square like Krystal’s famous burgers.

Krystal plans to scrape and rebuild 28 locations across Georgia over the next two years. The state currently has 121 Krystal restaurants, out of more than 350 across the Southeast (including franchises). Forty percent of Krystal restaurants are over 40 years old. The company will redesign 75-100 restaurants over the next five years, representing approximately 40 percent of Krystal’s corporate portfolio.

Macaluso expects to see a significant sales increase as a result of the redesign.