A new Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is going up in Delaware. Here's what we know about it.

Molly McVety
Delaware News Journal
Work to move Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen into the former Old Country Buffett location in the Center Pointe Plaza shopping center in Stanton continues Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.

This story has been updated to correct the owner of shopping center. The property is owned by the family of the late Joseph M. Capano.

Construction is well underway for a new restaurant in Stanton to replace the Old Country Buffet.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is set to open in early 2023 in the Center Pointe Plaza, 1325 Churchmans Road. Cheddar’s began talks last fall to take over the 10,300-square-foot site and signed a lease in April to repurpose the Old Country Buffet.

The eatery will join several other restaurants in the shopping center anchored by Home Depot and TJ Maxx, including Miller’s Ale House, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Pure Bread, La Tonalteca, Potstickers Asian Grill, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and Deerhead Hot Dogs.

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Cheddar's boasts "scratch-made" comfort food like chicken pot pie and croissants, along with traditional burgers and a variety of chicken, steak and seafood entrees. It also has a full-service bar.

This will be Delaware’s second Cheddar’s restaurant. The first location opened in 2013 in Camden along South Dupont Highway. 

The Old Country Buffet had been a Stanton staple since 1997 until it shut down in the fall of 2020 due to troubles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The chain itself had suffered several financial setbacks for over a decade, filing for bankruptcy three times between 2006 and 2016.

In 2018, Delaware Online/The News Journal released a poll asking readers which restaurants they would like to take the place of Don Pablo’s near the Christiana Mall, and Cheddar’s was a popular response. 

MSC Realty, which manages leases for the Center Pointe Plaza on behalf of the family of the late Joseph M. Capano, is also in negotiations with a retailer to occupy the former Babies R Us location. There is no confirmation as to what tenant will take over the 16,000-square-foot site. 

Boot Barn opened there in March, taking over the former Modell's Sporting Goods.

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Contact Molly McVety at mmcvety@delawareonline.com.