Gary Huether Jr. and Mike Murphy, Co-owners of Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar, announced today the national franchise launch of Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar, an innovative full-service casual restaurant and bar with a sports and entertainment focus that combines exceptional food and beverages, with unique concepts, and proprietary operational strategies.
Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar was founded in July 2008, and currently operates 7 corporate locations in Central Pennsylvania. Now, its founders will take the “unique sports and entertainment restaurant & bar” concept national and offer franchising opportunities to qualified single and multi-unit candidates.
Arooga’s was the winner of the “America’s Next Top Restaurant Franchise,” which was a national franchise contest sponsored by the Franchise Edge and Sysco Foodservice. Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar was selected the winner in this national contest from 250 other entrants. In addition to this recognition, Arooga’s Signature Wing Sauces have been a winner the last five years in a row at the National Buffalo Wing Festival.
“We saw an opportunity to fill a void in the sports and entertainment restaurant/bar segment, and appeal to a diverse clientele, attracting repeat guests from a variety of profiles including families, singles, couples, and business customers,” said Gary Huether Jr., president and co-founder of Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar. The Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar concept defines its own category, and offers quality, premium ingredients, and innovative operational standards which create a great customer experience at an affordable price.
Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar menu and recipes are chef-inspired. They are known for their “World Famous Wings” and offer them in many different ways. Whether you crave bone in, boneless, skinny, twice-baked or their very own bleu twice baked, Arooga’s has the wing for you with over a 100 different combinations of our proprietary Wing Sauces, created under the guidance of our classically trained chef. Guests can also enjoy our perfectly marbled Kobe burgers which are fresh, never frozen. If you like cheese steaks then you’ll love our traditional Philly cheese steak, or try our scratch made flat bread pizza or stromboli’s. If you need to lighten up, then order from our wide variety of fresh, crisp salads, all prepared from local produce. Who doesn’t love natural cut fries and chips that are cooked to order just like the boardwalk? If you’re in the mood to share, try our Shareables including our housemade dips, soups, and starters like our Buffalo Chicken and Maryland Crab Dip, or our Signature “A” Shaped Crab Pretzel. One thing’s for sure, whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
At Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar, it’s not just about great food and a great atmosphere. It’s about creative cocktails and ice cold beer, too. We serve thirty beers on tap including Arooga Light, which is our signature light beer made in PA and Arooga’s Amber Ale which is an Amber Pale Ale specially produced for us in a partnership with the Boston Brewing Company. We serve also a wide selection of Craft Beer, Imports, and other domestic beers that gives every beer drinker something to love. Arooga’s provides a full bar which includes our own Sagoora Quadruple distilled vodka, Island Oasis frozen cocktails, and the best margaritas in town. Our real juice sours mix is made from real squeezed lemons and limes.
Since opening the doors to our first restaurant in July 2008, Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar has received rave reviews and has won many local and regional awards recognizing them as Harrisburg Magazine’s “Simply the Best” Wings, and “Simply the Best” Sports Bar, along with Taste of Central PA Best Bar/Club, Best Restaurant Bar & Club, Best Late Night Dining Spot, and Best Burger. All of these awards were voted on by local residents, and determined by popular vote.
“Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar has experienced impressive sales that are exceeding the company’s expectations,” said Gary Huether Jr., President and Co-Founder. ”We have fine-tuned the concept through our 7 company locations and leveraged our collective operations experience and knowledge to create an innovative sports and entertainment restaurant / bar that is positioned for tremendous growth.”
To expand its footprint, Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar has embarked on an aggressive growth strategy that includes initial development efforts focusing in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Delaware. Franchises are also available in Connecticut, West Virginia, Rhode Island, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Over time, Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar will broaden its expansion efforts into markets in the Midwest, Southwest, and along the West Coast.
To fuel Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar growth, the company is seeking single and multi-unit operators with foodservice and/or restaurant experience. Franchisee candidates should have a passion for and commitment to exceptional customer service, as well as possess the resources and ability to open their first unit within 12 months and if interested in a multi-unit franchise, each additional unit at a maximum of 12-month intervals. They also should have a minimum net worth of $500,000 and liquid assets of $250,000 per location.
Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar has appointed, Keith Swade to handle Franchise Sales. Keith has more than 25 years of foodservice sales experience as the owner of a brokerage company in Pennsylvania. “Gary was a customer of mine in the brokerage business, and I was a customer of his at Arooga’s. I love the Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar concept. After we sold the brokerage company, I approached Gary and told him I wanted to get involved in the franchising of Arooga’s.” Keith continues, “Gary is a very dynamic individual, he is focused and driven to succeed, with a great desire to serve his customers. He is also very approachable, and cares about all his team members, and it shows in the operation of Arooga’s. Personal integrity and honesty are two cornerstones of Gary’s character, both of which are extremely important to me, so I knew that working together to introduce the Arooga’s franchise concept was going to be a great opportunity. I am excited to share the vision and success of the Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar concept with the nation.”
Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar Franchise Information
Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar has a contemporary sports & entertainment theme. For the folks that love the food and drink but may not be as interested in sports, Arooga’s offers Buzztime Trivia (which allows you to compete with other restaurants across the country), free WI-FI to just surf the net, answer email, or check your fantasy stats, Golden Tee Golf, and digital NTN Texas Hold ‘Em. Arooga’s caters to families, sports teams and the kids. With small flat screens at every booth, kids can watch their favorite cartoons or shows while Mom & Dad can enjoy some time to themselves. Rookies also have their own special menu, crayangle crayons, coloring sheets, games, and a special mascot name Joey the Kangarooga.
The Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar concept is designed to operate within 6,500 to 8,500 square feet. For urban locations and smaller venues, an Arooga’s Draft House & Sports Bar concept is available. An Arooga’s Draft House offers a slimmed down menu, larger draft selection and a more of a bar atmosphere but with all the fun and great times in a smaller footprint.
Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar will be developed through single-unit agreements and multi-unit agreements that require a minimum of three units in primary and secondary markets. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisee’s can expect the total cost of investment for one Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar to be between $592,500 and $1,685,000. The Arooga’s Draft House investment is from $362,500 to $1,139,000. The initial franchise fee is $35,000. Reduced franchise fees apply for Multi-unit agreements of three or more units. Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar is a proud participant in the International Franchise Associations – Vet Fran program, and offers a discount on the franchise fee to any honorably discharged Veteran of the United States Military.
Headquartered in Harrisburg, PA Arooga’s Franchising LP will handle franchise development, marketing, communications, training and other franchise operation support functions.
To learn more about ownership opportunities with Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar, contact Keith Swade, Franchise Sales for Arooga’s Franchising LP. at 215-450-9388 and keithswade@Aroogas.com, or view or franchise information at http://www.aroogas.com/franchising.
