After a lengthy absence, one of Joplin’s largest restaurants is about to show a new face.

Phil Vail, general manager of Ryan’s Family Steakhouse said the remodel that began six weeks ago is nearly over. He said the restaurant will reopen Wednesday April 23.

Vail said both the interior and exterior concepts of the restaurant are being updated, including tables, chairs, carpets and wallpaper.

He said the biggest change is the introduction of the “display cooking” concept.

Vail said customers will be able to order a variety of foods that will be cooked in an open kitchen near the front of the store.

“Before, we’d cook items in advance and set them out (on the buffet),” he said.

Vail said the choice of foods available from the new display cooking kitchen includes pizza, Chinese food, and steaks, all made to order.

“We still have two bars of hot food, including Fried chicken sliced, roast beef, all kinds of things,” he said.

Vail said guests at Ryan’s also have a cold salad and fruit bar and bakery bar to choose from.

Vail said that customers used to wait in a line to carry their own drinks and plates to their table. He said guests will now be greeted and waited on immediately, without having to carry anything to the table.

Vail said the restaurant used to offer steak carving on weekends, including Friday, but it will now be offered every day

except monday, when Ryan’s will be closed.

Vail said there are approximately 45 employees that elected to remain employed at Ryan’s through the remodel period. He said roughly half of those employees, mainly servers, elected to use the time as a vacation.

Donna Lindsey, server trainer at Ryan’s, decided to work, but seemed to understand her co-workers decision.

“They probably did need a vacation,” she said.

Vail said those that wanted to work during the down time were offered cleaning work and other tasks.

He said they also had the choice to commute to Ryan’s stores in Springfield and Rogers, Ark.

Lindsey said she worked in Rogers for the first three weeks of the Joplin location’s remodeling. Since then she has been working back at Ryan’s in Joplin.

“I’ve been cleaning here, putting tables up, hanging signs, unloading trucks, all kinds of work,” she said.

Vail said all older Ryan’s are being remodeled. He said he first heard the rumor two years ago that the Joplin location was going to be scheduled for a renovation.

Vail was unable to provide sales figures for the restaurant , but he estimated that prior to the remodel the restaurant has served between 5,000 to 7,000 customers per week.