Denny's Cuts Saturday Hours

SEATTLE - A Denny's restaurant at Terry Avenue North and West Mercer Street closed its doors early yesterday morning, making it the second Denny's in Seattle to break its "always open" promise and close from 1 to 6 a.m. Saturdays.

The Denny's at 301 Aurora Ave. N. adopted those hours about three weeks ago in response to increasing late-night crime.

"We've had situations where customers and employees were at risk, as far as their safety," said Jim Berrios, Denny's Northwest regional director of operations.

Berrios said that people have displayed guns and that there have been fights in those restaurants. In the Aurora Avenue North restaurant, someone hit a manager, and in the Mercer Street restaurant, a window was shattered during a fight.

"We have security, but it's just too much," said Berrios. "We have to be responsible."