White Hut to open second location on Boltwood Walk

Date: 7/4/2011

WEST SPRINGFIELD – For more than 70 years, White Hut has been serving their signature mouth-watering cheeseburgers, topped with slowly-cooked, golden caramelized onions on toasted buns, from their only location in West Springfield. Now the popular quick-service restaurant has not only added soft-serve ice cream to the menu, they will also be adding a second location as well.

Soon, customers used to making the trip for the famous burgers – along with White Hut’s other luscious staples, including hot dogs, fries, chips, soda and breakfast egg sandwiches – will have a second location to choose from, when White Hut opens its new store on Boltwood Walk in Amherst, in September.

Edward J. “EJ” Barkett II, of Longmeadow, MA, the third-generation owner, will be joined by his brother Robert E. “Bobby” Barkett, also of Longmeadow, who will manage the Amherst store. Bobby Barkett, formerly of Duct & Vent Cleaning of America, is changing careers to launch the second location of the successful business. Roberta, the Barketts’ mother, is a familiar face at the popular West Springfield restaurant and will continue to work at that location.

“Our family has made very specific changes over the last seven decades. We are always very careful to make sure any changes or additions honor our core values, and keep the true essence of the ‘White Hut Experience’ intact,” EJ Barkett said. “We are very cognizant of how change can affect the experience for our customers and we think this expansion will be a wonderful addition to the Amherst area.”

The Amherst location will take part of the space formerly occupied by Newbury Comics, and will offer patrons outdoor patio dining as well as handicapped access.

“Amherst is a terrific cross-section of college students and families who we think will really appreciate our quick service, quality foods and extremely affordable prices,” Bobby Barkett said. “We are looking forward to becoming a responsible business partner in Amherst, just as we have been in West Springfield for over 70 years.”

White Hut in West Springfield is open Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. White Hut in Amherst will be open seven days per week including late night hours Thursday through Saturday.