Burger 21 Signs Franchise Deal for Two Locations in Atlanta and Kicks Off Atlanta Expansion Effort

TAMPA, Fla., June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger 21^®, a new fast casual concept founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., announced today that it has signed a two-unit franchise deal in Atlanta, Ga., as it targets Atlanta as a growth market and opens additional territories for development in the area. 

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Corley and Meg Steward have signed an agreement to open two Burger 21 locations in the North Alpharetta and Buford/Mall of Georgia areas.  This deal comes on the heels of two signed deals for a total of three franchised units in Orlando, Fla., inked earlier this year.

"We are thrilled to have signed our first franchise deal in Atlanta just in time for our brand's latest growth initiative in the region," said Mark Johnston, Burger 21 president and chief concept officer and president of Front Burner Brands, management company for Burger 21. "With consumer demand for fast casual experiences on the rise, we are confident that Burger 21 will be a perfect match for Atlanta residents and impress them with an extensive menu that includes 10 beef and 10 non-beef burger options, as well as a variety of salads, hot dogs, fries, shakes and more."

Last fall, the company launched an aggressive growth strategy to bring its crafted burger creations and hand-dipped signature shakes to more cities across the U.S. Burger 21 stands apart from the competition by offering quality, premium ingredients, innovative recipes and a gourmet experience without the gourmet price. 

"We are extremely excited to bring the Burger 21 concept to Atlanta.  With chef-inspired burgers, shakes, hot dogs and salads, there is something for everyone to love," said Corley Steward.  "Even the gluten-free community will find Burger 21 irresistible with the recent launch of its gluten-free menu."

To further fuel its expansion in Atlanta, Burger 21 is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host its first-ever live webinar on June 21 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 sales associate for Burger 21, at 813-426-6252 or [email protected].

Burger 21 is seeking single and multi-unit operators with restaurant experience in Atlanta and throughout the country.  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 cost of investment for one restaurant to be approximately $513,495 - $733,995.  The initial franchise fee is $40,000 and reduced franchise fees apply for Area Development Agreements of four or more units.  

To learn more about ownership opportunities with Burger 21, contact Dan Stone, vice president of franchise development for Front Burner Brands, at 813-425-6208 and [email protected] or visit http://www.burger21franchise.com.

About Burger 21
With two locations open in Tampa, Fla., and seven in development in Tampa, Orlando and Atlanta, 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 beef to chicken, turkey, shrimp and tuna burgers, made-to-order salads, Hebrew National all-beef hot dogs, 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 140 locations in North America and more than 15 locations currently in development, Burger 21 with two locations open in Tampa and seven in development in Tampa, Orlando and Atlanta, GrillSmith with six locations in the Tampa Bay area and other new franchise concepts in development. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.

CONTACT: Kim Ryan
Fish Consulting
(770) 205-7423
[email protected]

SOURCE Burger 21