Outback Steakhouse hoping to open in Framingham by January

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Outback Steakhouse hopes to open a new location in Framingham across from Shoppers World by mid-January.

By Jaclyn Reiss, Town Correspondent

Outback Steakhouse representatives said they are hoping to open a new Outback restaurant location across from Shoppers World at 30 Worcester Rd. by mid-January.

The building, which used to house Big Papi's Grille before it closed in summer 2011, was knocked down and built anew for the national steak chain, said Maryellen Rupp, Framingham license administrator.

Outback representatives said the restaurant opening should create about 100 new jobs.

Outback representative still must go before the Board of Selectmen to obtain their common victualer's license, as well as a full alcohol restaurant license, which also must be approved by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, Rupp said.

Rupp said the chain will appear before the Board of Selectmen in December, but is unsure of the exact date, as agendas for those meetings have not been finalized yet.

However, Rupp said that there should be enough time for the restaurant to go before the town and state in December to obtain their licenses and still be able to open in January.

Outback Steakhouse has over a dozen Massachusetts locations. The closest location to Framingham currently is in Westborough.

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Jaclyn Reiss can be reached at jaclyn.reiss@globe.com