BIDDEFORD — Plans to open a Denny’s restaurant in Biddeford this spring appear to be on schedule.

Last year, a Denny’s spokeswoman confirmed the national chain’s intent to open a restaurant in June 2019 at 45 Boulder Way, the site of a former Ruby Tuesday.

Denny’s spokeswoman Ashley Kraynak said in an email on Wednesday that plans are still underway, and the restaurant is expected to open in May or June.

Kraynak was unable to say how many people the restaurant would employ. A job advertisement for a restaurant manager for the upcoming Biddeford location was posted at an online job site last week.

A permit by the city of Biddeford was granted on Feb. 11 to “fit out” the building which has been vacant since Ruby Tuesday closed in August 2016. A pile of building materials was next to the building on Tuesday, and a large garbage dumpster was in the parking lot.

The restaurant building is about 5,000 square feet, according to a former real estate posting. It is located at Mailhot Plaza, close to the Walmart Supercenter and a short distance away from the Biddeford Crossing shopping center.

Denny’s currently has restaurants in Maine in Portland, Auburn, Bangor, Ellsworth and Augusta.

Denny’s began as Danny’s Doughnuts in Lakewood, California, in 1953, and later evolved to Denny’s. Today, the restaurant chain is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with more than 1,700 restaurant locations worldwide.

Denny’s is known for its hearty diner food served 24 hours a day. Signature items include a number of “Slams,” breakfast combination meals that typically include eggs, meat and pancakes or waffles. The restaurant also has a “Fit Fare” menu with items that include an egg white and vegetable omelet.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.