Restaurateurs Bob and Chris Fahey have opened their latest restaurant Cross & Orange (732/361-5502 www.crossandorange.com), in Asbury Park in the Jersey Shore area of New Jersey. The 4000 square foot unit is in the Park Overlook building on Cookman Ave. and will feature a fine dining contemporary American-style menu that blends international flavors created by Executive Chef Sam Byrne. The Fahey brothers also operate the six year old Edgar’s Pub on Sea Girt Ave. in nearby Manasquan, New Jersey……..
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Chanticleer Holdings Inc. (704/366-5122 www.chanticleerholdings.com) has reached a definitive agreement to acquire BGR: The Burger Joint (571/223-5946 www.bgrtheburgerjoint.com), a better burger chain operating in the Maryland/Washington, D.C./Virginia area. Based in Lansdowne, Virginia, BGR is a quick casual concept with a particular focus on the better burger category. The chain includes nine corporate owned locations, eleven franchises, including one international location in Kuwait, and over eighty franchise locations under development agreements in domestic and international markets. Its menu features a proprietary blend of prime, dry-aged burgers grilled over an open flame. “This acquisition allows us an immediate presence in the franchising of the better burger category which we are committed to under Rich Adam’s leadership and the team we have developed internationally,” said Mike Pruitt, CEO of Chanticleer Holdings. “We are thrilled that their senior management and operations team have agreed to stay on board and they remain committed to the future success of BGR and of Chanticleer Holdings.” The transaction is expected to close on or around March 15, 2015……..
Little Greek Restaurant (813/245-3934 www.littlegreekrestaurant.com), the Tampa, Florida-based chain of Greek restaurants, is sourcing a site in the Louisville area for its first unit in Kentucky, according to reports on WDRB-TV. Tom and Tina Burress are the owner/operators or the Louisville franchise. Little Greek is a full service authentic Greek menu concept with about 19 locations in Florida, Texas and Arkansas. The units are generally in the 1600 square foot range. Additional openings are coming soon in Springhill, Orlando and Clearwater in Florida. Nick Vojnovic, president of Little Greek Franchise Development LLC, has previously stated plans to have 50 restaurants in five years……
The quick casual Tijuana Flats (407/339-2222 www.tijuanaflats.com) chain of Tex-Mex restaurants reports that its overall sales for 2014 were up by 8.13 percent and same-store-sales were up by 1.24 percent. During the year the chain opened six new stores in Florida, two in North Carolina and its first unit in Georgia to end the year with 106 restaurants in seven states. The chain noted that expansion will continue in 2015. In mid-January 2015, Tijuana Flats opened its second location in Largo, Florida quickly followed by its first location in South Carolina, a 2200 square foot unit with patio on Woodruff Blvd. and Garlington Rd. in Greenville. The Largo location is a 2400 square foot unit on Seminole Blvd., south of Ulmerton Rd. and across from the Largo Mall. It too includes a patio area…….
In early February, New York City restaurant veteran Michael Desiderio and partner Jimmy Faloni opened Desi’s Restaurant & Bar (973/287-6850 www.desisnj.com) in North Caldwell in northwest Essex County in New Jersey, considered a New York City suburb, according to reports in The Progress, part of NJ Hills Media Group. Located in a plaza at 11 Bloomfield Ave., the full service restaurant features a rustic atmosphere with modern American cuisine. …..
Hurricane Grill & Wings (561/932-1075 www.hurricanwings.com) has just opened its latest Florida restaurant in the Nob Hill Place on Sunset Strip at N. Nob Hill Rd. in Sunrise in South Florida. The unit features an indoor dining room with seating for up to 130 as well as an outdoor patio with seating for up to 80 people. The location also includes an outdoor ‘Beach Bar’ where guests can enjoy signature tropical cocktails and local craft beers. This is the franchise chain’s 41st location in the state and the second location opened in South Florida in the past two months as it continues its Florida growth. Hurricane Grill & Wings is an island-inspired full-service concept with over 85 restaurants open or under construction in 17 states. The restaurants are typically in a 3400 to 5300 square foot range…….
Chipotle Mexican Grill (303/595-4000 www.chipotle.com) will be opening in the Riverside Commons shopping center in Macon, Georgia according to mid-Georgia’s The Telegraph. The end cap unit will include a patio area with over 20 seats. Riverside Commons is a six-tenant plaza on Tom Hill Sr. Blvd. just off I-75 in Bibb County in central Georgia. The Denver, Colorado-based Mexican menu chain operates over 1600 of the quick casual restaurants including about 25 in Georgia…….