Gainesville is not only home to a Top 10 university, it’s now also home to 34 different flavors of cheesecake.
A new Cheesecake Factory will open to the public at the Butler Town Center on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Previously, the closest locations were in Jacksonville and Orlando.
Corbin Ketchum, an 18-year-old finance UF freshman, was one of 300 new employees hired at this Cheesecake Factory. He started training on August 28 as a busser and is looking forward to putting all of his training into practice.
“The grand opening is expected to be a huge success,” Ketchum said. “Everywhere I go, someone has stopped and asked about when we’re opening.”
Ketchum worked the soft opening, which took place Thursday and Friday. He said 1,000 people attended the four lunch and dinner sessions over the two days.
“There wasn't a time it wasn't packed,” Ketchum said. “I had a lot of fun, and I felt like it was a good representation of how the restaurant will really work.”
The restaurant will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 11 to 12:30 a.m., Saturday from 10 to 12:30 a.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m, Ketchum said. The menu will include over 250 brunch, lunch and dinner options and more than 50 cheesecakes and desserts.
The Cheesecake Factory seats 215 people inside and 88 people on its outdoor patio, Ketchum said. He expects the restaurant to be at capacity opening night.
Andrea Tamayo, a 19-year-old UF biochemistry sophomore, said she loves going to The Cheesecake Factory with her family back home in Tampa for special occasions. She is excited to finally have one close by so she can take her parents out when they come to visit.
“I can’t wait to order the chocolate mousse cheesecake,” Tamayo said. “It’s my go-to whenever I eat at The Cheesecake Factory.”
The outside of the new Cheesecake factory located at Butler Town Center. The restaurant will open Tuesday, September 17 at 11 a.m.
