New restaurant opens doors early to help local charities

Friday, Oct. 20, 2017

News 12/NBC 26 This Morning

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Metro Diner, a new restaurant taking over where Somewhere In Augusta was, is opening it's doors.

If the name sounds familiar - it's original location is in Jacksonville and the restaurant has made a few appearances on the Food Network.

They will be holding their soft opening this weekend. Usually restaurants have soft openings a day or two before their official first day. The soft opening allows staff to get a little more training but also to start making money, but Metro Diner is doing things a little differently.

The new diner will be hosting two soft opens this Saturday and Sunday and invited two local charities to be the first to try out the upscale diner food.

There is no bill at the end of the meal, customers eat free but are asked to donate to the charities.

On Saturday the pre-opening event will benefit the Ronald McDonald House and Sunday will benefit the United Way of the CSRA.

Betts Murdison, the President and CEO of the local Ronald McDonald House says the charity allows families to stay at the Ronald McDonald House near the Children's Hospital of Georgia while their child receives medical treatment. Saturday's event is not only huge for the charity but also the families.

The manager for the Augusta Metro Diner says they are excited to open up in this community.