With the popular Heitmiller’s Steakhouse in Elm Mott targeted for destruction to widen Interstate 35, a new $1 million Heitmiller’s is going up at North Loop 340 and the I-35 frontage road in Lacy-Lakeview.

K.K. Heitmiller and his wife, Donna, opened Heitmiller’s in 1988. It created a loyal following with its generous helpings and giant steaks.

Businessman Jay Hinojosa bought the restaurant in 2007 from Donna.

Construction is under way for a new Heitmiller's Steakhouse at I-35 and Loop 340 in Lacy Lakeview.
Duane A. Laverty/Tribune-Herald

“My wife, Stacey, and I own the Shell truck stop in Elm Mott, and we’ve known the Heitmillers a long time,” Hinojosa said. “Donna is getting up in age and wanted to do something with the restaurant, so I bought it.”

The Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation plans to widen I-35 from North Loop 340 to just south of West, and it has bought the old Heitmiller’s that thousands of diners came to love.

“My customers said, ‘You can’t go away,’ so we decided to build a new place,” Hinojosa said.

He chose land in front of a vacant shopping strip in Lacy-Lakeview that once housed a movie theater and a Winn-Dixie grocery store. A McDonald’s and a Taco Bell also do business on outparcels there.

“This is a high-traffic intersection, and I think I can draw a little bit more from Waco than I’ve been drawing,” said Hinojosa, adding he is spending “upwards of $1 million” on his new restaurant.

It will cover 12,000 square feet, seat 350 diners and have a rustic exterior created by Austin stone, wood and stucco.

The inside will feature a “great room” with a 24-foot-high ceiling, as well as a gift shop called The Veranda to sell novelties.

Hinojosa said he’ll probably hire 20 additional staffers to boost employment to nearly 70.

“The place I have now is 9,700 square feet, and it can seat about 325 people,” he said. “We won’t seat a lot more in the new place, but it will be more open, spread out and up-to-date.”

The highway widening project has two parts, with most of the major changes taking place between Business U.S. 77 and West.

Some work will take place near the new Heitmiller’s, but not much.

“I believe it is their intent to start construction within the next year. A lot will depend on how quickly they can acquire right of way,” said Chris Evilia, director of the local Metropolitan Planning Organization.

He said TxDOT will spend $211 million on construction and $36 million buying property.

Hinojosa said he hopes to open his new restaurant by July.

Donna Heitmiller said her family had a lot of good times running the restaurant.

She said TxDOT has said for years it would have to take the place, “and now they’re finally going to do it.”

“I miss it terribly. We were interested in being popular and having a good reputation more than the dollar, and we were successful. Maybe that was a mistake,” she said with a laugh.

“I hope Jay is doing a good job with it,” she added. “I’m sure he is because he’s got my name.”

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

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