Navigation
Waffle Hut Finds New Home in Downtown Klamath Falls
This article was in Tuesday’s (February 20th, 2018) Herald and News
Written By: Sean Bassinger, H&N Staff Writer
For many years, Rob McPherson has been all about the waffles.
In the summer, McPherson has seen lines of people often stretching outside just to get a seat at his well-known Oregon Avenue diner, Waffle Hut, which currently seats about 30 people.
At the end of the month, Waffle Hut will settle into the former location of Apatite, which the owner of Running Y Ranch Resort and The Cerulean Hotel has decided to lease out.
Now they’ll be able to host up to 271 people.
Moving from their current home to the 7,200 square-foot restaurant on the south side of downtown means other changes in store for the diner: they’ll hire at least six or seven more staff members, in addition to expanding their dinner menu and looking into a liquor license for their new bar.
As for the look, the atmosphere and the breakfast recipes, McPherson wants patrons to know they’ll practically stay the same.
“We’re not going to be fancy — these are going to be our decorations,” McPherson said, describing the old shop’s fixtures.
What’s in a waffle?
Restaurants seem to run in McPherson’s family, whose father also owns Old Town Pizza in downtown Klamath Falls. The Waffle Hut owner first got his start with a hot dog place, Pluto’s Dog House, adding that he wanted to keep it simple.
He decided to try something new shortly after.
“It was a little too simple, so we switched over to the diner,” McPherson said.
Anyone who has visited Waffle Hut may notice a unique bunch of waffle recipes on the menu, all in addition to traditional breakfasts. One of the more popular meals is the “Go Ducks,” which has bacon, spinach, goat cheese, mushrooms and more.
“It’s almost like having a salad on top of a waffle,” McPherson said.
McPherson said he also loves getting input from customers, who have also helped come up with some of their creations over the years.
Once Apatite became available, McPherson said Roy Tyler, who also runs a barbecue stop in the same neighborhood, told him to check the Main Street site out.
He knew it was a good fit.
“I always wanted to move, but it has to be the right opportunity — the right spot,” McPherson said. “Now we’re right by the courthouse, park and hotel.”
Moving along
McPherson hopes that their new location could open in the beginning of March. Sunday is their last day at 2065 Oregon Ave.
Apatite, the previous restaurant at 100 Main St., first moved to the location back in August 2017, but a lack of revenue led to the restaurant’s closure just months later. Some banquets and conferences have still been hosted at the venue.
Those involved have talked about Waffle Hut as a new tenant for some time, according to George Rogers, general manager at Running Y Ranch Resort. Rogers said he and others at Running Y were excited to have the restaurant next to the Cerulean.
“He’s had a tremendously successful restaurant in our market for a number of years,” Rogers said. “We look forward to having him there.”
McPherson said he would also get guidance from Running Y staff to host his own banquet events, something he says is a first since he’s used to a much smaller diner. There’s also a possibility that Waffle Hut could start catering, a venture McPherson said Tyler may also assist him with.
But overall, McPherson sees the expansion as a good opportunity to better serve the same dishes in a more laid-back atmosphere, in addition to some new dinners with steak, pork and other classics.
“Just walk in with blue jeans, sit down and have a steak,” McPherson said.
To read this article and others on the Herald and News website, please refer to the following link:
