Bob Stanley, a veteran of the quick-service food industry, opened Back Yard Burgers on Tuesday, September 1.

The fast-casual restaurant is located at 16211 Athens-Limestone Blvd. which is on the northwest side of the I-65/U.S. 72 Interchange at Exit 351 in Athens, Alabama. The Back Yard Burger Franchise boasts its flagship, “Back Yard Burger” sandwich, as a 1/3 pound, Angus Hamburger grilled to perfection just as you would in your own ‘backyard’.

With more than 35 years in the business, Mr. Stanley has quite a history. He began at college graduation as a Manager-Trainee with Burger Chef Restaurants in Indianapolis, Indiana, quickly rising to restaurant manager and on to serving as a district manager then regional manager for a large franchisee of the chain. When Burger Chef was purchased by Hardee’s in 1982, Bob went to work for Burger King Corporation where he was a franchise business manager until 1996.

With the blessing of Burger King Corporation, Bob became a partner and Managing Member of Alabama Quality, L.L.C., a franchise based in Huntsville, Alabama, where he started the company with one employee, himself.

His first restaurant, located in Haleyville opened in October of 1996. In less than four years, he built 14 restaurants – ground up – and grew to well over 300 employees until the partnership was dissolved in 2003 at which time Bob joined Back Yard Burgers as a franchise field consultant.

Bob says he “has been truly blessed to have the opportunity to use my experience once again as a Franchisee” and that “Back Yard Burgers is an excellent concept with superior food choices made with high quality ingredients”.

Nashville, Tennessee-based Back Yard Burgers was founded in 1987 in Cleveland, Mississippi, and operates about 150 restaurants in 20 states.