Burger 21 Signs Franchise Agreement for 25th Restaurant; First in Pennsylvania

TAMPA, Fla., June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger 21^®, a new better burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot^® Restaurants, Inc., announced it has signed a franchise agreement to open a restaurant in Cranberry Township, Pa., early next year.  This deal marks the brand's first location in Pennsylvania and 25^th restaurant open or in development.

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"Burger 21's expansion into Pennsylvania is a major milestone for the brand as we enter our eighth state and develop our 25^th location," said Mark Johnston, president and chief concept officer of Burger 21 and president of Front Burner Brands, management company for Burger 21. "We're looking forward to introducing the brand to guests in the Pittsburgh area and have no doubt they will love the crafted burgers, hand-dipped shakes and menu variety that have made Burger 21 so popular."

Franchisee Chad Brooks signed an agreement for one location in Cranberry Township, a suburb north of Pittsburgh. He currently owns and operates eight Qdoba restaurants in the market.

"The success of high-end burger restaurants in Pittsburgh really got me searching for a fast-casual option with a broader menu and better environment," Brooks said. "When I found Burger 21, I knew I had found the concept that matched perfectly with what I was looking for. Mark and his team really have done an excellent job developing the concept and have it poised for success and growth."

"Chad's 10 years of multi-unit franchising experience coupled with his passion for developing young brands makes him an ideal Burger 21 franchisee," Johnston added. "We're confident his first location will be a hit among Pittsburgh's burger lovers."

Burger 21 recently was named one of Fast Casual's Top 100 "Movers and Shakers" of 2013. The concept ranked No. 22 based on its variety of innovative recipes and recent expansion. In addition, the franchise's latest gluten-free menu received the No. 1 ranking for the "Top 10 Menu Innovations" and Mark Johnston was recognized as one of the "Top 20 People" for his strategic leadership in the growth and development of the brand.

To fuel further expansion in Pennsylvania, Burger 21 is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a live webinar on Thursday, June 27 at 2 p.m. EDT. To register, or to learn more about franchising opportunities with Burger 21, please visit www.burger21franchise.com/events.aspx or contact Ashley Pollard, franchise development manager for Burger 21, at 813-425-6252 or [email protected].

Since launching its aggressive growth plan in fall 2011, Burger 21 has signed franchise agreements with 11 different entities in eight states to develop a total of 21 franchised units in cities along the East Coast from New York to Florida. 

Burger 21 is seeking single- and multi-unit operators with restaurant experience to join its upscale fast casual dining concept. Franchisee candidates should have a minimum net worth of $500,000 and liquid assets of at least $200,000 per unit. Burger 21 will be developed through both single-unit agreements and Area Development Agreements. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisees can expect the total investment for one restaurant to be approximately $414,495 – $831,995. The initial franchise fee is $40,000; however, reduced franchise fees apply for Area Development Agreements of four or more units. 

To learn more about ownership opportunities with Burger 21, contact Ashley Pollard, franchise development manager for Burger 21, at 813-425-6252 or [email protected] or visit www.burger21franchise.com.

About Burger 21
With seven locations open in Tampa Bay, Fla., Orlando, Fla., and Voorhees, N.J., and 18 in development in seven states, Burger 21 is a "beyond the better burger" fast-casual franchise concept founded in 2010. Burger 21 is a chef-inspired brand with offerings including 21 unique burger and slider creations ranging from hand-crafted, freshly ground Certified Angus Beef^® to chicken, turkey, vegetarian, shrimp and tuna burgers, made-to-order salads, all-beef hot dogs, hand-breaded chicken tenders and an extensive shake bar including hand-dipped shakes, floats and sundaes. Burger 21 is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.burger21.com.

About Front Burner Brands
Front Burner Brands (formerly known as TGS Restaurant Management) is a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. It is affiliated with the corporate owners of and its management services extended to The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., founded in 1975 with more than 135 locations in North America and more than 25 locations currently in development, Burger 21 with seven locations open in Tampa Bay, Fla., Orlando, Fla., and Voorhees, N.J., and 18 in development in seven states, GrillSmith with six locations in the Tampa Bay area and other new franchise concepts in development. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.

SOURCE Burger 21

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