Quaker Steak & Lube, the motorsports-themed casual-dining family restaurant best known for its chicken wings and 22 specialty sauces, announced that it will roll out a new 7,700-square-foot prototype store concept in 2011. Quaker Steak & Lube’s new design by Pontia Architecture will reduce the upfront costs associated with construction to just less than $1 million.
“The new design is a huge part of our company’s expansion plans and an attractive investment for potential franchises. With all of our recent development deals, customers can expect to see the new restaurants arrive in early 2011,” says John Longstreet, president and chief executive officer of Quaker Steak & Lube. “The 7,700-square-foot prototype store is going to play an integral role in our brand’s expansion throughout the next couple years.”
The prototype store accommodates indoor and outdoor patio seating formore than 350 guests and includes themed rooms such as Thunder Alley, the Vette Room, and two bars called Handle Bar and Brickyard. Serving as an outside bar in the summer, Brickyard bar has large garage-style doors that open and provide patio seating. Also featured within the new prototype store will be the pick-up Wingo Window where guests can order select menu items in a drive-thru type setting.
“Customers can expect the same quality of food and experience from the prototype store that all Quaker Steak & Lube restaurants have to offer,” says Jamie Cecil, vice president of franchise sales and development. “We are excited to kick-off the New Year with such an innovative concept.”
Quaker Steak & Lubemost recently signed a record-breaking 16-restaurant development agreement with Action Companies, a Quaker Steak & Lube franchisee since 2008, and will begin constructing the first 7,700 square-foot prototype stores in the upstate New York and New England marketplace beginning in early 2011.
In addition to the major expansion into New York and New England territory, Quaker Steak & Lube is working on finalizing details for another major development deal in the Midwest and also has plans on opening at least 10 more locations across the U.S. throughout 2011.
