• Allison Miles •
• Originally published January 8, 2009 at 11:18 p.m., updated January 8, 2009 at 11:18 p.m.

Booths and tables were packed at Buffalo Wild Wings Thursday afternoon, but not with customers.

With just days to go until the restaurant's Monday grand opening, the place was brimming with staffers finishing up training, taking tests and wiping down tables.

The chaos before an opening is a good thing, General Manager Michael Word said with a smile.

"Everybody is excited," he said above the dining room chatter. "I am so pumped."

Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 7905 N. Navarro St., hired about 127 people, Word said. But that number will probably dwindle to about 85 people.

The restaurant will lose some because that's simply what happens, he said, and has to make other cuts at times.

"I don't want to lose anybody," he said. "Right now everybody's doing well."

Thursday was "friends and family day," where staffers' loved ones can come in to sample the food.

While it gave the public an inside look into the restaurant - which comes furnished with flat-screen TVs, games and a full bar - it helped with training.

"It gives the cooks a chance to work out their kinks, gives the servers some practice and allows us to evaluate them," Word said.

Kevin Williams is a cook and said that, so far, he's had fun. And he's glad to see something like this coming to Victoria.

"I think people will enjoy it," he said, explaining it's a good place for high school or college students to meet up. "I think we should have another one on the other side of town."

Cashier Barbara Urias admits she's experiencing several emotions.

"I'm nervous, excited, kind of scared," she said, laughing.

Although she knows the computer system pretty well, she still plans to practice a bit more to make sure she's got the cash register buttons down.

Across town at 1510 E. Rio Grande St., Jack in the Box's drive-through was packed. But, like Buffalo Wild Wings, these weren't customers.

The restaurant was preparing for its grand opening, also slated for Monday.

"I need six cheese sticks, please," a voice rang out inside the restaurant. "Six egg rolls, 12 cheese sticks," called another.

Employees - the restaurant hired about 60 of them - ordered meals, cooked up burgers and practiced greeting customers as part of the training process, said Roman Combs, the restaurant's area coach.

"We want this to be the friendliest place in town," he said. "Point blank."

Victoria's restaurant is one of the first to boast the new signage - the word "Jack" written in cursive, rather than the entire name in bubbly letters - he said.

The restaurant interior features a green, yellow and cream color scheme and a gas fireplace surrounded by chrome.

The opening might be big but it isn't the last change Jack in the Box will see.

Another location, slated for the corner of Navarro Street and Magruder Drive, is set to break ground in March or April, Combs said. About half of the current employees will then move to that one

The Rio Grande restaurant could probably open up on Friday if necessary, he said, but with a few odds and ends left - placing the menu behind the counter, for instance - those extra days will help.

"But we're excited," he said. "We're very glad, very lucky to be here."

• A FEW MENU ITEMS

  Buffalo Wild Wings:

  Buffalo Wings

  Chili Queso Burger

  Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wrap

  Jack in the Box:

  Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger

  Homestyle Ranch Chicken Club sandwich

  Beef Tacos

  COMMUNITY NIGHT

  Looking for a sneak peek at Buffalo ...

• SHOW ALL »

A FEW MENU ITEMS

Buffalo Wild Wings:

Buffalo Wings

Chili Queso Burger

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wrap

Jack in the Box:

Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger

Homestyle Ranch Chicken Club sandwich

Beef Tacos

COMMUNITY NIGHT

Looking for a sneak peek at Buffalo Wild WIngs?

Friday is "community night," where the food is free. All you pay for are the alcoholic beverages. Proceeds go to Mid-Coast Family Services.

When: 6-7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Buffalo Wild Wings, 7905 N. Navarro St.

For more information, call the restaurant at 361-575-9464

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