OC to get new Denny's near Route 90 bridge; restaurant replacing vacant JR's Ribs

A new sight will be welcoming visitors to Ocean City after they cross the Route 90 bridge into town — a Denny's restaurant.

The Denny's will take the place of JR's Ribs on 62nd Street that has been closed since November 2015.

"It’s a shame to lose a mom and pop business, and when people go on vacation, they like to experience something different," said Wayne Hartman, Ocean City council member. "But some don’t, and this will offer something for everyone.

"That’s what Ocean City is all about."

BACKGROUND: Second Denny's to open in Ocean City

BACKGROUND: Remembering Ocean City 'Rib King' Jack Hubberman

The new Denny's will be operated by Mike Rommel, who operates six Denny's, including the other one in Ocean City as well as the two in Wicomico County.

The property has been leased to Denny's, said Steve Hubberman, son of the late-JR's owner Jack Hubberman and co-owner of the property along with his brother.

"It will be a brand new facility, a complete update and renovation from the floor to the ceiling," he said.

According to Rommel, the location will open in November, however, that date is subject to change.

The location will be a 24-hour operation and will serve alcohol, he added.

Rommel chose this location because Denny's is a "diner concept" right off the highway.

"I cannot think of a better place than having off route 90 and 62nd street," he said.

Jack Hubberman died of cancer in October 2016. He opened JR's on 62nd Street with Joe Colton in 1980. Hubberman also opened locations of JR's on 131st Street and in Rehoboth, as well as a commissary near the 131st Street location where they sold frozen ribs and barbecue sauce to customers, as well as honey baked hams during the holidays.

The north Ocean City restaurant, now occupied by Tokyo Seafood Buffett, and commissary were closed in 2014, with the Rehoboth location closing before that. The 62nd location closed in November 2015.

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Steve Hubberman said it would be "kind of sad" for his dad to see a Denny's go in where the original JR's was, but it was important to recognize that time has passed and it is time for a new business to go on the property.

"Mike (Rommel) is a great operator, and he is determined to having a fantastic operation there offering great food and service," Hubberman said. "And it will be a new, go-to place, and that is what excited us. We understand it is change and that’s hard, but we are excited for the newness."

The Denny's did not need to go through a zoning change because it is taking the place of an already existing restaurant, said Frank Hall, zoning administrator for Ocean City. However, it did need to go through the planning and zoning commission for a building facade change.

"It is going to end up looking like a typical Denny's that you see anywhere else," he said. "It will have the Denny’s colors and awnings and the red contrasted against the beige or lighter colored building. It is not going to look like the JR's did."

The planning and zoning board wanted to ensure, though, that the new Denny's didn't stand out for being different.

The first time Denny's went to the board, the board determined it would stand out too much.

"We wanted a different facade to keep in line with the OC design," he said. "We wanted the Denny’s to be linear and so it will fit with the architecture. So they came back a second time with a different design, and the planning commission accepted that design."

Other than that, there were no issues with approving the design for the Denny's nor has the board heard any pushback from the public, Hall said.

Hartman, too, said he has not heard of any pushback.

"Nor have any of the council members made any concerns known," he said.

On Twitter @hughesg19