Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurants and General Growth Properties Sign Multi-Unit Expansion Initiative

CHICAGO, Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- General Growth Properties, Inc. (NYSE: GGP) ("GGP") and family-style Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo today announced the scheduled opening of 10 Buca di Beppo restaurants set to open at various properties within the GGP mall portfolio during late summer 2012.  The multi-restaurant deal expands the existing diverse sit-down dining offerings at the 10 regional GGP malls and marks a significant expansion of the Buca di Beppo restaurant group. 

The GGP properties that will soon welcome Buca di Beppo include:

• Governor's Square Mall (Tallahassee, FL)
• Augusta Mall (Augusta, GA)
• The Shoppes at River Crossing (Macon, GA)
• Market Place Shopping Center (Champaign, IL)
• Florence Mall (Florence, KY—Cincinnati)
• Oakwood Center (Gretna, LA—New Orleans)
• White Marsh Mall (Baltimore, MD)
• Town East Mall (Mesquite, TX—Dallas)
• Red Cliffs Mall (St. George, UT)
• Fox River Mall (Appleton, WI—Green Bay)

The new Buca di Beppo restaurants will range in size from 4,500 sq. ft. to 7,000 sq. ft. and all units are scheduled to open in the summer 2012.  This expansion initiative is the first of multiple deals that are in development with Buca di Beppo and various GGP properties throughout North America.  With these new locations the Buca di Beppo restaurant group continues its dynamic growth that began with multiple new restaurant locations in the United Kingdom, Mexico and the opening of a flagship restaurant location at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.

Staying true to the traditions that have made Buca di Beppo a leading casual-dining Italian restaurant group with more than ninety locations in the United States, England and Mexico, the restaurant will feature its signature quirky decor, complete with irreverent photographs, strings of multi-colored decorative lights, gingham tablecloths and over-the-top service.  The menu will include generous portions of quality house-made cuisine including such favorites as freshly baked Lasagna, Spaghetti with Meatballs "as big as your head," Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Chicken Parmigiana, all served "Family-Style."

"These malls are situated in markets where customers desire expanded sit-down restaurant options. Each opening will complement the dining selection, further solidify the mall's standing as a popular dining destination and add much-needed jobs to the market.  It's great news for everyone," said Alan Barocas, senior executive vice president of leasing for General Growth Properties.

"This is a dynamic and exciting time for the growth of the Buca di Beppo brand," said Robert Earl, chairman of Buca di Beppo. "By offering high-quality cuisine in generous family-style portions at an exceptional value, Buca di Beppo has emerged as the preeminent casual-dining, Italian family restaurant. In partnership with General Growth Properties we will strategically enlarge our restaurant group with multiple new domestic restaurants with a rapid expansion into retail environments that offer high traffic counts, appealing demographics, and accessibility to consumers who appreciate great quality at a great value."

ABOUT GGP

General Growth Properties, Inc. owns or has an interest in 136 regional shopping malls comprising approximately 140 million square feet of gross leasable area in the United States. GGP is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol GGP.  For further information please visit the GGP website at www.GGP.com.

About Buca di Beppo

Owned by Planet Hollywood International, Inc., with locations from Washington D.C. to Honolulu, Buca di Beppo restaurants embody the Italian traditions of food, friendship and hospitality. Dishes enjoyed for generations in villages throughout Italy inspire the menu, which features both Northern and Southern Italian favorites. While the food has pleased millions of palates from coast-to-coast, Buca di Beppo is equally famous for its quirky decor and upbeat atmosphere. Most Buca di Beppo locations are open daily for lunch and dinner. Delivery is also available at many locations nationwide. Visit www.bucadibeppo.com for locations, hours of operation, menus, and reservations or to place an online order for Buca To Go. Or Follow Buca di Beppo on Facebook or Twitter: bucadibeppo.

CONTACT: MEDIA – David Keating, VP of corporate communications, (312) 960-6325, [email protected]
CONTACT: INVESTORS – Kevin Berry, VP of Investor Relations, (312) 960-5529, [email protected]
CONTACT: BUCA DI BEPPO – Michael Coldwell, BRAINtrust Marketing, (702) 862-4242, [email protected]

SOURCE General Growth Properties, Inc.; Buca di Beppo