Roni’s Mac Bar will soon be a restaurant in Lubbock that specializes in customizable cheese treats.
Roni’s Mac Bar started in Waco after the founders pivoted from their edible cookie dough business to a build-your-own mac and cheese bar concept. The franchise has restaurants in College Station, Fort Cavazos and Harker Heights, with locations coming soon in Lubbock, Missouri, New Mexico and Utah.
Jennifer Ewing, franchisee for the Lubbock location, learned about Roni’s through her and her husband’s teenage daughters. The family checked out the original location in Waco and knew they had to bring it home.
“We drove to Waco, loved the food and told them to let us know when they were ready to open a franchise, and here we are today,” Ewing said. “Lubbock was mentioned in the comments on social media asking where to open a Roni’s franchise, and we decided to give the people of Lubbock what they wanted.”
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Roni’s Mac Bar is set to open in the fall, but Ewing hopes to get the opening done as soon as possible. The location has not been announced yet, as Ewing plans to hold a contest that says, “Guess our location and your first meal is on us.” However, Ewing did promise that the eatery will be “very close” to the Texas Tech University campus.
“I’d say Lubbock, nearly 2 million fans on the internet can’t be all that wrong,” Ewing said. “Making your own mac and cheese is every college student’s dream, and with over 77 million possible combinations, it’s almost impossible not to have a good bowl or sandwich.”
Roni’s offers two build-your-own options: a mac and cheese bowl or a grilled cheese sandwich. For the bowls, guests choose pasta, cheese, meat, toppings, garnishes and sides. Sandwich lovers choose at least one melted cheese and can add mac and cheese, meat, toppings, garnishes and sides.
Ewing’s favorite is the grilled cheese sandwich “Mac and Cheese” with chicken, bacon and ranch dressing.
“This sandwich won me over,” Ewing said. “My husband Sherlock’s favorite sandwich is cheddar with brisket, corn and BBQ sauce.”
Two customer favorites are the cheddar or gouda cheese bowls with brisket, jalapenos and BBQ sauce and the “F Me Up Bowl.” This bowl combines nine different types of cheese in one bowl and is making the rounds on TikTok.
A grand opening celebration is being planned, with vendors and entertainment, and the first 100 customers will have a chance to win a year’s worth of mac and cheese. Those closer to the opening can check the Lubbock location’s Facebook page for updates.
