The Cincinnati-based franchise Skyline Chili restaurant is having its grand opening today in downtown Bowling Green.

The Skyline restaurant will be located on N. Main St. across from Uptown/Downtown Bar. Skyline will not fit the traditional style of most restaurants. The restaurant will feature counter top style service similar to the service at Panera Bread Company. There will be no waiters or waitresses and the restaurant plans to have most of its employees U. students.

Corey Fast, director of student promotion, believes that Skyline has a unique and appealing taste.

ìSkyline uses chocolate sauce as an ingredient in their chili,î said Fast.

Fast says that at first the food may seem strange but for many it becomes a favorite taste. For Cincinnati residents Skyline is a taste of home. The menu will feature all of Skylineís entrÈes, such as cheese coneys, 3-ways, burritos, ìsky-friesî and even vegetarian dishes.

The prices for food will also stay about the same with an average meal costing between $3 and $6.

The restaurant hopes to cater the late night crowds around Main Street on the weekend. Skyline will be open until 4 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Glenn Dicky and Matt Bendure are two former students responsible for bringing Skyline to BG. Dicky had finished his fourth year as a criminal justice major when high school friend and former University student Bendure made a business proposition.

Bendure had just eaten at a Skyline Chili restaurant for the first time. Later, Bendure proposed that the two of them open a Skyline in Bowling Green.

Bendure had attended Bowling Green for a year and started working. Dicky, however, had only one internship and a few credits until he graduated.

ìThis provided a unique opportunity and a chance for me to be my own boss,ì explains Dicky said.

It was a tough decision for Dicky to make, but in the end he decided the opportunity was worth the risk.

ìWe got a loan and are working to get it paid off and form a line of credit,î Dicky said. ìHopefully, once the store is running I can start taking classes and finish my final year.î

Bendure and Dicky are hopeful in the success of the business. With many University students from around the Cincinnati area, they feel that there is a student backing for the restaurant.

ìIt is exciting because it will be nice to have a flavor of Cincinnati around campus,ì notes senior Dustin Lester.

Junior David Andersons adds his excitement, ìNow I have one less reason to go home.ì

Fast expresses his Skyline love, ìIf only it could have been here freshman year!î

Head football coach Urban Meyer is another member of the Bowling Green community excited about the new restaurant. After hearing about the new opening he invited Bendure and Dicky out to watch the Falcons practice.

With the opening of the store here Dicky is ready to start serving customers.

ìI did not understand how much work this was going to be,î Dicky said. ìHopefully, it will all be worth it.î