Saladworks announced an agreement with developers for the first Saladworks location in the Richmond, Virginia, area. The location is slated to open in early 2011.

The new Saladworks franchisees are old friends and current tennis buddies, Kevin Long and Travis Miller. The two friends have always wanted to enter the restaurant business and will bring their first franchise concept to their hometown of Richmond.

“We think it’s exciting to be a part of a franchise,” Miller says. “Kevin and I both have strong business backgrounds, and we look forward to using the expertise of Saladworks Corporate as our resource when it comes to running a restaurant in a new market.”

“We really liked the Saladworks concept, and we were impressed with the willingness of corporate to work with us and help us achieve our goals – to expand and bring more Saladworks locations to Richmond,” Long says.

The Richmond deal adds to the salad franchise’s expansion across the country. Previous deals for Saladworks locations include Northern Orange County, California; Wake County, North Carolina; and Knox County, Tennessee – where the state’s first location will open in the West Town Mall in late October.

“Saladworks has continued to expand at a rapid pace, and we couldn’t be happier to bring our concept to the people of Richmond,” says Saladworks Founder/CEO, John Scardapane.

“Kevin Long and Travis Miller are excellent businessmen, and we are looking forward to seeing them grow and expand to several locations throughout the state.”