Burger 21, founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc., announced it has expanded the brand to Georgia and North Carolina with the opening of its first Metro Atlanta restaurant July 29 followed by a new location in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 5. These openings mark the concept’s eighth and ninth open restaurants in addition to its 16 franchised locations in development along the East Coast.
“The expansion into two new states marks a major milestone for Burger 21 as we strive to introduce the Atlanta and Charlotte markets to our diverse menu of crafted burgers and hand-dipped shakes,” says Mark Johnston, Burger 21 president and chief concept officer of Front Burner Brands, management company for Burger 21. “We see these cities as key markets for expansion over the next few years, aiming to develop 15 to 20 units in Atlanta and an additional 10 in Charlotte through franchise opportunities.”
The new Metro Atlanta restaurant is located at 3385 Woodward Crossing Blvd., Suite 350, in Buford and is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Corley and Meg Steward who plan to open a second location in the North Alpharetta area in 2014. The Charlotte location will open August 5 in Ballantyne Village at 14825 Ballantyne Village Way. In addition to offering guests a variety of burgers like the Tex-Mex Haystack, Spicy Thai Shrimp, Black Bean, and Chicken Marsala, both locations will have craft beer and wine by the glass.
To further fuel Burger 21’s expansion, the company is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a live webinar on August 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 11 different entities in eight states to develop a total of 21 franchised units in cities along the East Coast from New York to Florida.
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 to $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 apollard@burger21.com or visit www.burger21franchise.com.
