Long John Silver’s Opens in Amarillo and the Chaos Was Tasty

One thing about Amarillo is its love for businesses that aren't located in the city.  We dreamed of a Buc-ee's, and that dream finally came true. We long for an HEB and are still hoping and praying that it happens.

Why Did Long John Silver’s Leave Amarillo?

Once upon a time, Amarillo had at least 6 Long John Silver's franchises, but they alas left the Yellow City after some bad business decisions. However, the love for LJS was strong, and the dream of once again having an LJS in Amarillo came true.

When Did Long John Silver’s Reopen in Amarillo?

Long John Silver's returned to Amarillo on Friday, August 1, 2025.

The doors to Amarillo's brand-new Long John Silver's opened at 10 am on this summer Friday morning, and Amarillo showed up in a big way.

What Were Opening Day Crowds Like?

Let's just say the Grand Opening was absolutely wild, but those who went got to enjoy its fried golden goodness. Check out the videos from the grand opening weekend.

Who is keeping Long John Silver's open? As they say in the video, the people of Amarillo.

Let's take another look. This user started on Fulton and traveled east to Bell St.

The line was just as bad at 10:30 at night.

How Does Someone Visiting Amarillo React to the Grand Opening Insanity?

TikToker @tiktoknightdoc, Doctor Oh, a traveling ER doctor, was in Amarillo. To visitors, Amarillo might look a little crazy.

Oh, and the article they were talking about in the video was one of ours!

Read More: Sources Say Long John Silver’s Is Returning to Amarillo, Texas

Let's take a quick look inside Long John Silver's during the Grand Opening.

TikToker @lilsophie chronicled her family's 4-hour wait in line to grab their long-awaited meals from Long John Silver’s.

Cody Jasper got it right, "Holy Moly!"

The most creative video of the grand opening goes to the mother of the TikTok user, @the_eddlemans.

The grand opening made many Amarilloans happy, and yet made us look a little crazy as the lines and waits for this anticipated restaurant exceeded 3 hours. Just three days in, Amarillo broke LJS, multiple fryers reportedly went down, according to social media posts. Not to worry, they’re back up, running, and ready for customers.

Is the New Long John Silver’s Here to Stay?

It's safe to say that LJS is here to stay in Amarillo.

Read More: Here's How You Can Help Bring Long John Silver's Back to Amarillo

It's crazy how far this obsession has gone, but it is finally back, Amarillo. Let's hope this management team will make sure this franchise lasts for decades and expands throughout the city. We were sad to see it go, but we are excited to have it back.