Burger 21 To Open First Arizona Restaurant in Scottsdale on July 21

TAMPA, Fla., July 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger 21^®, a new better burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot^® Restaurants, Inc. franchise company based in Tampa, Fla., announced today its first restaurant in the western U.S. will open in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Monday, July 21 in Seville Shopping Center located at 7001 N. Scottsdale Road. To celebrate with the community, the first 100 guests to visit the restaurant on opening day will receive a free Burger 21 t-shirt and all guests will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a free tailgate grill.

In addition, ten percent of all proceeds on opening day in Scottsdale will be donated to the 100 Club of Arizona, a local non-profit that provides assistance to statewide public safety agencies, officers, firefighters, paramedics and their families.

"I'm thrilled to open Burger 21's first restaurant in Arizona," said Dan Lenhauser, franchisee. "Burger 21 has a unique culture and a diverse menu that appeals to a wide array of consumers. We are confident that the Scottsdale community will love our gourmet burgers without the gourmet price."

The new restaurant in Scottsdale marks Lenhauser's first Burger 21 restaurant with his second location slated to open in Chandler, Ariz., later this year. Lenhauser is unaffiliated with any of The Melting Pot® fondue restaurants located within the state, which are operated under separate ownership groups. With the opening of the Scottsdale location, Burger 21 will have 13 restaurants open and 23 franchised locations in development across the country.

"Expanding Burger 21's presence to the western U.S. marks a major milestone for the brand," said Mark Johnston, Burger 21 president and chief concept officer and president of Front Burner Brands, management company for Burger 21. "Scottsdale is just the first of several locations planned for the state, as we aim to develop a total of 10 or more units in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area over the next several years."

Burger 21 Scottsdale features 21 unique, chef-inspired burger creations, hand-crafted signature shakes, gourmet hot dogs, hand-breaded chicken tenders and fresh salads served in a contemporary-style diner atmosphere with fast, high-touch service. Additional highlights include:

• 75 new team members hired in Scottsdale
• Approximately 3,154 square feet
• Seating for 123 customers inside the restaurant
• Patio with seating for 24 customers coming soon

The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sunday. To learn more about Burger 21 Scottsdale, please call the restaurant at 480-607-0421 or visit www.burger21.com. Follow Burger 21 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and join the B21 Club to receive the latest Burger 21 special offers and promotions delivered straight to your inbox.

Recently, Burger 21 was named one of QSR's "Best Franchise Deals" and also earned the No. 5 ranking in Fast Casual's Top 100 "Movers and Shakers" of 2014, up from No. 22 the prior year. Additionally, Burger 21 President Mark Johnston was acknowledged as one of the "Top 25 People" for his continued strategic leadership in the growth and development of the brand. Last year, the franchise's gluten-free menu received the No. 1 ranking in the "Top 10 Menu Innovations" category.

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 $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 $416,133 – $833,895. 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 associate for Burger 21, at 813-425-6252 or [email protected] or visit http://www.burger21franchise.com.

About Burger 21
With 13 locations open in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia, and 23 in development in seven 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, fresh salads, all-beef hot dogs, chicken tenders and an extensive shake bar including hand-crafted 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 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 13 locations open in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia, and 23 in development in seven states, and GrillSmith with five locations in the Tampa Bay area. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.

SOURCE Burger 21