First A&W/Long John Silver's Co-Brand Drive-In Opens

Franchisee Mark Laxton, a ten-year operator of drive-in restaurants with another chain, has become a pioneer of sorts by opening the first co-brand A&W/Long John Silver's drive-in, located about twenty miles from the Arkansas line and near Springfield, Missouri.

Laxton, owner of Laxton Management, is the first franchisee of Yorkshire Global Restaurants (parent company of the A&W and Long John Silver's chains) to open a co-branded drive-in. According to Laxton, the opportunity to put the two popular quick-service restaurant brand names under one roof was too good to pass up.

"The popularity of the Yorkshire Global co-brand concepts was encouragement for me to try this with a drive-in," Laxton said.

The new co-branded A&W and Long John Silver's Restaurant drive-in concept has thirty-three stalls for customers to order and eat their food from their vehicle, plus another fifty-one seats inside.

"We have integrated a state-of-the-art ordering system by Ordermatic of Oklahoma City," said Paul Nierzwicki, A&W operations vice president. "Our goal is to delivery the order within two minutes."

The new free-standing drive-in features both the A&W and Long John Silver's logos, plus a blend of decor from both chains, such as an A&W juke box. Consumers can choose from both menus, including the A&W All American menu of hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, french fries, its signature soft drink A&W draft root beer, and A&W draft root beer floats.

The Long John Silver's Menu at the drive-in will feature the brand's country battered fish, chicken, seafood, and french fries, plus a variety of sides.

The new facility is open for the 11,200 residents of West Plains seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The manager is Gene Stanley, and the restaurant employs 53 persons.