Finally the rain has stopped, so now it’s time for pasta sauce to flow like a raging river. The new Mr. G’s on Highway 80 West will be opening today at 10 a.m.

This is one of the most eagerly anticipated openings in recent memory. When the old Mr. G’s burned down, residents of Demopolis immediately began asking when and where they were going to rebuild.

Owner Gerald Gilbert said he is very excited about the restaurant finally reopening its doors. The new building has a mix of the classic Mr. G’s atmosphere, with a section of stonewall like the old building, as well as four new televisions to give it a new feel as well.

“We have three televisions in the front dining room as well as a big screen television in the party room,” Gilbert said.

He said that even though they are going to open their doors Thursday, there still are some things that need to be finished inside the building.

“I just didn’t want to keep putting this off. The people of Demopolis are ready for us to open, so we’re going to open,” Gilbert said.

He said there are many things that he likes about the new building, but it will be hard to forget about the old place.

“There are so many memories at the old building that it will take some time for Demopolis to get use to a new Mr. G’s,” said Gilbert.

The new restaurant will be 5,700 square feet, a little smaller than the old store, but is able to seat 180 people comfortably, which is more seating than the old store. “I have lived in four different states and countless cities and Demopolis is by far the best city I’ve ever lived in. I enjoy living here and I plan on being buried out on 43 one day,” Gilbert said.

The new store will have numerous improvements compared to the old store, but one for sure will be the new drive-through window. “We will have to see how the public reacts to it, I don’t want the customers inside to have to wait while we tend to the ones outside,” Gilbert said.

There will be a few new items on the menu, he promised, adding that all of the old favorites will be there also.