Groundbreaking takes place for Ground Round Grill and Bar

HURON – As heavy machinery took a short break in its progress to literally break ground, community leaders welcomed the owner of a new Ground Round Grill & Bar to Huron in a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday morning.
Diane London also owns a Perkins Restaurant in Fort Pierre.
“On behalf of the Huron City Commission, I want to welcome Diane to town and thank her for having the confidence in Huron to invest here,” said Mayor Paul Aylward. “We’re very glad to see you.”
General contractor Justin Picek of Picek Construction said construction will be completed in late winter or early spring.
“It’s going to be a really nice, attractive building,” he said.
Ground Round Grill & Bar has been known for more than 45 years for its two-room design that is comfortable for families, friends and sports fans.
The Huron restaurant will include all of Ground Round’s latest design elements and feature an expanded layout, to also include meeting room space.
Huron is one of five newly signed franchises as the location footprint is expanded from nine to eleven states.
The restaurant is being built just south of the Coborn’s parking lot along Highway 37.

“It’s very exciting to have a business come in like this, a restaurant that is much needed,” said Phelan Stahl, a member of the Chamber Ambassadors.
Aylward and others said they have eaten at London’s Perkins Restaurant in Fort Pierre.
“I can assure you that she runs a quality place to dine,” he said.
Greater Huron Development Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Borszich said Wednesday was an exciting day for the Southtown Addition.
“We have a number of things going on down here right now,” he said. “Just take a look around folks today and come back two years from now. You won’t recognize what’s going to happen in this particular area.”
Sen. Jim White, R-Huron, said he has known London for eight years. She caters meals and oversees social events during each legislative session and is well known in Pierre and Fort Pierre.
“I was amazed at the way she handles people,” he said.
Five years ago, Huron leaders approached her and asked her to consider looking at establishing a restaurant here. After a few weeks, White said he learned she had been to Huron. Later, he found out she had been meeting with local entities.
“A business isn’t successful because of the building that the business is in, it’s because of the people who are in it,” White said.
“If you visit with her staff in Fort Pierre, it’s not Diane’s, it’s ‘our’ business, and so I think you’re going to see that same philosophy here,” he said.
Spencer White, president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank, is confident the restaurant will succeed.
“If you’ve ever met Diane, she’s an extremely driven person, and if anybody can make this work here she’s the one that can make it work, and I think you’ve got the right product and the right person to do it,” he said.
London said the Huron community has been enthusiastic about the new restaurant. City leaders were persistent in their efforts to convince her to come to Huron, she said.
They have been complimentary, helpful and supportive as well, she said.
“Some people say, ‘why Huron,’ and I said I really think we’re going to love it there,” London said.

Photo:

Diane London, center in the red and black, the owner of the soon-to-be constructed Ground Round restaurant, breaks ground in a celebration with local dignitaries, and representatives from Greater Huron Development Corporation and the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau Wednesday morning, at the building site in the Southtown Addition.

Photo by Roger Larsen/Plainsman