Active development along Interstate 65 continues to attract a wide variety of restaurateurs with Hooks Barbecue the latest chain announcing intentions to build in Greenville.

&#8220We're real happy with this market,” said Shayne Lord, co-owner of Hooks Barbecue, Inc., by phone on Thursday. &#8220This will be our first time at an interstate location so we're looking forward to seeing how that's going to do.”

Lord said the restaurant would be a franchise unit. Hooks currently has locations in Troy, Dothan, Opp and Andalusia.

Another Hooks restaurant is under construction on Highway 331 in Rutledge and will employ six to eight full-time employees and six or seven part-time, said Lord.

Lord and his partner, Andy Little, own and operate the unit in Andalusia, which also serves as a training facility for new employees and managers, he said.

Lord said he anticipates starting construction on the Greenville building in the next two months.

&#8220We're actually in the process of finishing the one in Rutledge right now,” he said. &#8220We should be finished with it in about 45 days. Of course, when we start in Greenville depends on the development over there. My goal is to have it open by the end of the year.”

Plans are underway for the construction of a Holiday Inn Express, expected to open on the large lot - by the Wal-Mart SuperCenter - in 2008.

The Hooks franchise will be directly adjacent to the hotel, said Lord.

Hooks Barbecue has been in business for 25 years, according to Lord.