By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Gari's Donuts in Hays is set to reopen in the next two weeks as Kluckin' Chicken.
Hays entrepreneur Jacob Proffitt closed the doughnut operation, 2401 Vine, at the end of December.
He had been working to open a new chicken restaurant in the former Mokas building on 27th Street.
He was approached by another entrepreneur, who will be leasing that building for another restaurant.
Proffitt said he decided to rebrand the restaurant on Vine to chicken.
Kluckin' Chicken will offer chicken strips, biscuits and waffle fries. The restaurant will keep its rolled ice cream and old-fashioned candy.
Customers can order a variety of sauces, including barbecue, buffalo, honey mustard, ranch, white gravy and a house Kluckin' sauce.
All chicken strips will be hand-breaded and made to order. All menu items will be made in-house, Proffitt said.
Customers can order three, four and six-piece meal deals or party orders of 25 or 50 strips. Kids' meals also will be offered.
"It's a really basic menu, but sometimes it's better to do a couple of things right than a bunch of just mediocre things," Profittt said.
Customers can dine-in or pick up to-go orders. Deliveries will likely be eventually offered through Hays2Go, Proffitt said.
The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
He said all of the employees were retained.
Proffitt also recently opened a pizza restaurant, Little Dinero, at the corner of 27th and Hall in Hays and has an interest in several other restaurants and businesses in Hays.