Casper, WY – The long‑idle food court at Eastridge Mall is set to come back to life thanks to a new loaded‑potato restaurant. James Brady and his wife Daisy will launch a Casper branch of their successful Spud Man concept, which they already operate in downtown Riverton.
Local partnership fuels the revival
Brady credits the mall’s management team for offering incentives that make the project feasible. “They have some good ideas about trying to bring people back to the mall, and I thought I could be a part of that,” he said.
From Flaming Wok to Spud Man
The new outlet will occupy the former Flaming Wok space, the last food‑service business in the food court before it closed last year after two decades of operation. The existing kitchen already contains most of the equipment needed, with the only addition being a proper oven for cooking the potatoes.
Menu highlights
Spud Man’s menu centers on large baked potatoes topped to order. The most popular offering is a classic combination of cheese, bacon, scallions and sour cream. Other favorites include a brisket‑and‑cheese potato and the “Cattleman,” which features diced filet mignon. Vegetarian options are also available.
James Brady’s culinary journey
Born in Cody, Wyoming, Brady spent decades in the restaurant industry before opening his own business. After a stint in high school auto‑mechanics, he returned to cooking, working for celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse at Delmonico Steakhouse in Las Vegas and later at several James Beard‑award‑winning establishments. He later served as executive chef and food‑and‑beverage director at the Sheridan Holiday Inn, ran a restaurant in Arizona, and eventually settled in Riverton, where Spud Man began as a food trailer before moving into a brick‑and‑mortar location.
Opening plans
Brady has been commuting between Casper and Riverton to prepare the new site, hiring staff and installing signage. A soft opening is slated for this Wednesday or Thursday, with a grand opening to follow at a later date. Spud Man will operate Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Online presence
A dedicated website for the Casper location is now live, and social‑media pages are in development to keep the community informed about menu updates and events.
The addition of Spud Man is expected to draw shoppers back to Eastridge Mall, supporting local commerce and providing families with a quick, family‑friendly dining option.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
