Burger 21 Unveils Its First Restaurant With Full Service Bar In Ocala, Florida

TAMPA, Fla., May 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger 21^®, an award-winning, "beyond the better burger" fast casual franchise, recently unveiled its first free-standing restaurant with a full service bar and outdoor patio. To date, the Tampa, Florida-based company has 22 locations open in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia, and more than 20 in development in six states.

"We're thrilled to have unveiled our long-awaited first restaurant with a full service bar, and knew Ocala was a great market to launch the brand's specialty cocktails and shaketails," said Mark Johnston, Burger 21 founder and president. "The restaurant has already exceeded our expectations by breaking all previous grand opening day records with more than $15,000 in sales. We plan to incorporate the full service bar into future restaurant build-outs to provide an additional revenue stream for our franchisees. The full service bar also gives us an opportunity to showcase even more food and beverage trends, while further positioning the brand as an innovator in the 'better burger' industry."

The new 4,300-square foot restaurant features Burger 21's classic, contemporary design with several new upgrades, including a full service bar with specially brewed Destination Orange® craft beer on tap, which is available exclusively at Burger 21's Ocala restaurant. The location also offers a menu of chef-inspired Shaketails and Twisted Spirits, including:

• Sunshine & Dreams: Destination Orange® beer, Cointreau®, orange juice and zest, Burger 21's vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream, orange zest and an orange slice.
• Crazy Cookie: Pinnacle® Whipped vodka, Bailey's® Irish Crème, Oreo® cookie crumbles, Burger 21's vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream and Oreo® cookie crumbles.
• Black & Bleu Martini: A combination of Tito's® Vodka and olive juice with a blackened seasoning rim garnished with bleu cheese-stuffed olives.
• The Sunshine State: Jim Bean® bourbon combined with muddled strawberries, lemon juice, orange bitters and ginger beer.

In addition, the Ocala location is nearly twice the size of Burger 21's standard restaurants and offers seating for 160 customers with a total of 90 team members on staff. It also has several high definition flat screen TVs throughout the restaurant and bar area, in addition to the brand's first to-go POS entrance for pick-up orders.

Burger 21 is actively seeking qualified franchisees to expand its national footprint across the country. Those interested in development opportunities with the brand should visit burger21franchise.com/ApplyNow.aspx and register to receive access to an informational franchising webinar. For more information, please contact Ashley Sawyer, director of franchise development for Burger 21, at 813-327-7881 or [email protected] or visit burger21franchise.com.

Recognition for Burger 21 includes being named one of Entrepreneur magazine's Top New Franchises of 2016. Additionally, the company has been ranked on Fast Casual's Top 100 "Movers and Shakers" for the last four consecutive years, while Burger 21 Founder and President Mark Johnston was acknowledged as one of Fast Casual's "Top 25 People" of 2014 for his strategic leadership in the brand's growth and development. Burger 21 also was named one of QSR's "Best Franchise Deals" of 2014.

As the brand continues to expand across the U.S., 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 $600,000 and liquid assets of at least $250,000 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 $422,083 – $974,395. The initial franchise fee is $40,000; however, reduced franchise fees apply for veterans, minorities and Area Development Agreements of four or more units. 

To learn more about ownership opportunities with Burger 21, contact Ashley Sawyer, director of franchise development for Burger 21, at 813-327-7881 or [email protected] or visit burger21franchise.com.

About Burger 21
With 22 locations now open in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia, and more than 20 in development in six states, Burger 21 is a "beyond the better burger" fast-casual franchise concept founded in 2010. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Burger 21 is a chef-inspired brand with offerings including 21 unique burger creations ranging from hand-crafted, freshly ground Certified Angus Beef® to chicken, turkey, vegetarian, shrimp and tuna burgers, fresh salads, all-beef hot dogs, chicken tenders and an extensive shake bar including hand-crafted shakes, floats and sundaes. Since its inception, the company has provided more than $127,000 in contributions as part of its "B Charitable" initiative, in which it donates 10 percent of its restaurants' sales to local schools and charities on the 21^st of each month. For more information, visit burger21.com.

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SOURCE Burger 21

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