By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The former Tiger Burger, 700 Main, is making the flip to fish.
Owner Jacob Proffitt is rebranding the business to Tiger Station, a fish and chips restaurant.
The restaurant will serve hand-battered fried fish with ranch-cut fries. It also will serve hushpuppies, homemade coleslaw, chicken strips, fried shrimp, po'boys and a variety of other fish specials depending on the season. This could include Maine lobster rolls or salmon.
"We're learning that it's better to do a few things really good," he said. "That's our motto now."
Proffitt has interest in several other restaurants in Hays, including Kluckin' Chicken, Bricks Rockin' BBQ and Little Dinero Pizza.
Tiger Station will serve housemade tarter and cocktail sauces, as well as malt vinegar with the fish and shrimp.
The restaurant will offer fountain drinks and beer in cans or bottles. To match the British fish and chips theme, the new restaurant will offer ales as well.
Proffitt said he had received much interest in a fish restaurant after recently launching Kluckin' Chicken on Vine in Hays. However, he didn't want to add fish to the menu at Kluckin' Chicken.
He was concerned frying fish and chicken together would result in the chicken having a fishy aftertaste.
He said Tiger Burger never rebounded after the pandemic.
"Since we opened Tiger Burger, there's been four more places where they do burgers," he said, "The market's kind of saturated. We thought if we did something more niche, that would be a draw."
Tiger Station only has seating for about 30 people inside, but it has a spacious patio with seating for an additional 80 customers. The restaurant also will offer food to go.
The decor for the restaurant will remain much the same. The restaurant is in a renovated 1923 Sinclair gas station, which is on the state register of historic places.
The decor includes restored gas pumps, oil and gas signs, and panels that relate the history of the Hays area.
Tiger Station will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
Proffitt said he is waiting on a few items for the kitchen, but he expects to open the restaurant with its new theme by March 30.