Burger 21 Heads West with First Arizona Franchise Agreement

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger 21^®, a new better burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot^® Restaurants, Inc., announced today the signing of its first franchise agreement in Arizona. The deal will bring the first Burger 21 restaurant in the western U.S. to Chandler, Ariz., further expanding the brand's footprint to a total of nine states and positioning it for further growth westward. To date, Burger 21 has nine open locations and 17 franchised restaurants in development across the country.

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"This is a significant achievement in our company's history as Burger 21 expands westward for the first time," said Mark Johnston, Burger 21 president and chief concept officer of Front Burner Brands, management company for Burger 21. "Our first Arizona franchisee, Dan Lenhauser, has a wealth of franchising experience that will ensure the brand's success in the state. We look forward to introducing Chandler residents to our innovative 21 crafted burgers and hand-dipped shakes."

Lenhauser, a seasoned multi-unit Subway franchisee with more than 15 years of experience in the Phoenix market, will open the first Burger 21 restaurant in Chandler in 2014. After opening his first restaurant, he plans to pursue a second unit in the Phoenix market over the next several years.

"It's exciting to be the first franchisee to bring Burger 21 out West, and I know that Chandler residents will appreciate the brand's diverse menu and 'beyond the better burger' experience that is truly unlike any other in town," said Lenhauser. "The extensive training and support that I'll receive from Front Burner Brands, coupled with my foodservice and franchising experience, will allow me to further establish Burger 21's presence in Arizona."

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 gluten-free menu received the No. 1 ranking in the "Top 10 Menu Innovations" category 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 further fuel Burger 21's expansion, the company is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a live webinar on Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. EDT. To register, or to learn more about franchising opportunities with Burger 21, please visit www.burger21franchise.com/events.aspx.

Since launching its aggressive growth plan in fall 2011, Burger 21 has signed franchise agreements with 12 different entities in nine states to develop a total of 22 franchised units in cities across the country.

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 nine locations open in Tampa Bay, Fla., Orlando, Fla., Voorhees, N.J., Atlanta, Ga., and Charlotte, N.C., and 17 in development in six 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 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 nine locations open in Tampa Bay, Fla., Orlando, Fla., Voorhees, N.J., Atlanta, Ga., and Charlotte, N.C., and 17 in development in six 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