Denny’s is set to reopen its Columbus location at 3019 Olentangy River Road following a remodel, bringing a refreshed dining space, upgraded technology and a renewed focus on serving the Ohio State University community.
The restaurant is operated by Kamal Perialwar, who is managing partner of Knights and Bites, a franchise group that operates multiple Denny’s locations across Ohio and Kentucky.
Perialwar said his journey with Denny’s began in 2024, when a longtime business associate and fellow franchisee invited him to help operate a Denny’s restaurant in Marietta, Ohio. After becoming familiar with the brand, the group continued expanding its portfolio.
The company later acquired additional Denny’s locations in Ohio, including restaurants in Youngstown and Findlay, before adding several more locations across Ohio and Kentucky.
Today, Knights and Bites operates nine Denny’s restaurants across Ohio and Kentucky, with plans to continue expanding. Perialwar said the group hopes to reach 25 Denny’s locations across the two states by the end of 2027.
The Columbus restaurant at 3019 Olentangy River Road was already operating as a Denny’s before Knights and Bites took over. The franchise group saw an opportunity to modernise the roughly decade-old restaurant and attract more customers.
“We started investing in remodel to give a fresh new look with the new POS technology and kitchen modernization,” Perialwar told WhatNow Columbus.
The remodel includes a refreshed interior, upgraded point-of-sale technology and kitchen improvements designed to make service more efficient.
Perialwar said the goal is for guests to receive their food within about 10 minutes, while still maintaining Denny’s focus on consistency and customer service.
The restaurant has seating for approximately 104 guests and employs about 26 people.
The location is also positioned near The Ohio State University, making students an important part of its customer base. Perialwar said the team is working to make the restaurant more convenient for students, including through its BuckID programme.
The restaurant remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving Denny’s full menu throughout the day and night. That includes the chain’s breakfast offerings, along with lunch and dinner items.
Among the newer menu offerings are Denny’s sliders, which Perialwar said have been popular with customers. He also highlighted the Diner Dippers, which include sliders, mozzarella sticks and wings.
The restaurant has also introduced a breakfast slider featuring egg, cheese and bacon.
Beginning Sept. 1, the Columbus location will also offer catering as the franchise group looks to expand its relationships with nearby businesses, organisations and the local community.
Perialwar said the response to the remodel has been positive since the restaurant reopened.
“We’ve been interacting with our guests. They’re all very happy with the fresh new look,” he said.
The restaurant also offered free coffee to customers during the first days following the reopening.
For Perialwar, the remodel is about more than updating the physical space. He said the team spent several months focusing on building the right staff and creating an environment centred around customer service.
“Our company’s model is people first,” he said.
Looking ahead, the franchise group is exploring additional Denny’s locations in Ohio, including potential restaurants in London and Cooper, with possible expansion into Canton and the Dayton area next year.
Perialwar said the Columbus location will continue to evolve with additional technology upgrades while growing its catering business and strengthening ties with the Ohio State community.
Ultimately, he hopes the restaurant becomes a go-to destination for both breakfast and late-night meals in the local community.
“This would be, I would like to see Denny’s in this location be a go-to breakfast area, not only breakfast and late-night snacks as well for the local community,” Perialwar said.
With the remodel, upgraded kitchen and technology, and its 24-hour schedule, the restaurant aims to offer customers a refreshed version of the familiar Denny’s experience while maintaining the consistency of the national brand.
