INDIANAPOLIS, April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- An old neighborhood friend will soon be sporting a new look. The Max & Erma's (NASDAQ:MAXE) restaurant at 8817 Rt. 31 S. will close for a makeover at 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 22. When it reopens at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 7, the restaurant will sport a totally new look. "We're going to enhance both the interior and the exterior of the restaurant," said Rob Lindeman, president of Max & Erma's. "We believe our guests will appreciate the new look, which will stress lighter colors and a more open, spacious interior." The interior décor will still feature walls adorned with the eclectic items that Max & Erma's made famous, but the new design will focus on larger items and less clutter. The Greenwood restaurant is the first Indianapolis Max & Erma's to be refitted with the new look. "We're going to escape from the sea of sameness and differentiate Max & Erma's in the casual dining market," Lindeman said. "Many of our competitors have copied our décor and image. We are establishing a new look that reflects our heritage, while separating ourselves from the competition. It will still be the Max & Erma's everyone loves - great food and service. We're simply creating a new environment in which to enjoy our food." Lindeman said all of Max & Erma's company and franchise restaurants will be renovated over the next several years. All new restaurants also will have the new look. The interior front of the Greenwood restaurant will be gutted and completely overhauled during the short time the store is closed. There will be more than 20 contractors working inside and four outside. "When the restaurant closes Sunday night, we're going to have to be ready to go," said Jeremiah Potter, facilities manager at Max & Erma's. "We're anxious for Indianapolis to see the new look." The new design will feature elements of the new prototype unveiled earlier this year. The elements include: Slate floors will be installed, replacing the wood; Colorful, hand-blown glass fixtures will replace metal fixtures; New table tops; Renovations to the restrooms; A new floor plan. The new exterior color will be cream with black accents, replacing the old yellow, green and red. The exterior also will have cultured stone, brick and awnings. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Max & Erma's entered its fourth decade in business in 2003. From a single, neighborhood restaurant that opened in 1972 in the German Village section of Columbus, Max & Erma's operates 100 company- owned and franchise casual dining restaurants. Max & Erma's grew up in the Heartland, but its footprint now extends from the East Coast to Nevada, and Grand Rapids to Atlanta.
