Burger 21 has recently announced the signing of a franchise agreement to open its first single-unit restaurant in Arkansas, located in Little Rock. Another franchise agreement was signed by Burger 21 to open another restaurant in Georgia, located in Athens.
"Since we began franchising in Fall 2011, Burger 21 has made great strides in expanding to new markets across the country, and this is another incredible milestone for the brand," said Mark Johnston, Burger 21 founder and president. "We have a significant opportunity to build a strong brand presence nationwide and look forward to working with our new franchisees to grow their businesses."
According to the press release of Burger 21 in PR NewsWire, the first restaurant in Arkansas is expected to open by the end of 2016 and will be managed by Allen Hurst, who has more than 20 years of experience in the residential mortgage sector. Hurst is a native of Arkansas and plans to open additional four-units in the region for the next five years. On the other hand, the Georgia restaurant will be owned by Paul Kim, who currently owns two dental practices in the Atlanta market.
"When my wife and I first dined at Burger 21 in Tampa, we were amazed by the food and exceptional service, which brings the better burger industry to a whole new level," said Hurst. "Their dedicated team has been instrumental in helping me throughout the planning process, and it is great to know they will continue to stand behind me every step of the way as I take on this new business venture. I love the state of Arkansas and can't wait to return and open a successful Burger 21 franchise."
Burger 21 is known for its 21 unique burger creations, ranging from hand-crafted, freshly ground Certified Angus Beef®, to chicken, turkey, vegetarian, shrimp and tuna burgers, in addition to fresh salads, all-beef hot dogs, chicken tenders, and an extensive shake bar which feature hand-crafted shakes, floats and sundaes. At present, Burger 21 has 21 operational restaurants in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia. More than 20 restaurants of Burger 21 are currently being developed in six states.
"The major difference between Burger 21 and the other better burger concepts is the wide variety of chef-inspired menu options and high quality ingredients," said Kim. "From the sauce bar to the shake bar, we are confident that local residents will be impressed by the brand's 'beyond-the-better-burger' experience."
