PepperJax Grill, home of “America’s Best Philly,” recently opened its 30th store location in Blue Springs, Missouri, in early April. PepperJax Grill started with an invention by PepperJax Grill’s owner and founder, Gary Rohwer, and has today developed into a rapidly growing fast casual restaurant chain that’s known for its “grilled right before your eyes” dining experience.
Gary Rohwer invented and acquired a patent on Steak-EZE, allowing for a 35-second cook time right in front of his customers with 100 percent sirloin steak. This, along with his 30-year-old secret seasoning and a fresh, hearth-baked proprietary Philadelphia roll, comprises “Americas Best Philly.”
The first PepperJax Grill location was opened by Gary and Linda Rohwer in 2002 at 132nd & W. Center Rd in Omaha, Nebraska. Today, the Omaha, Nebraska-based grill has 30 locations throughout the Midwest and expects to have 40 locations by the end of 2015. PepperJax Grill has been named a Top 100 Fast Casual Restaurant Chain in the nation by Technomic Restaurant Reports.
“The uniqueness of the PepperJax experience where menu items are fresh grilled to order for each individual guest is the reason for our tremendous growth,” Gary Rohwer says.
PepperJax Grill recently opened its first free-standing building with drive thru window service in Grand Island, Nebraska. “The sales have been incredible” Rohwer adds, “We’re the only fast casual restaurant in the country that offers drive thru ‘fresh grilled made to order’ menu items with great speed of service. Sales at the new Grand Island location are up 40 percent over the existing in-line shopping center locations. The impact on profitability has been tremendous.” At least six more drive thru PepperJax Grill restaurants are planned to open in the near future in Lincoln, Nebraska; Bellevue, Nebraska; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Mankato, Minnesota; Rochester, Minnesota; and Fargo, North Dakota.
Guests choose from steak, chicken, shrimp, or veggie options with menu offerings that include America’s Best Philly, Giant Burritos, Gourmet Rice Bowls, Loaded Nachos, and Fresh Salads. Guests can also choose from more than 40 delicious free toppings including a signature sauce bar at no extra charge.
New PepperJax Grill locations are planned to open throughout Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota in the near future. PepperJax Grill is developing a private offering for national expansion.
