Granite City Food & Brewery Ltd. (NASDAQ: GCFB) announces the opening today of its first location in Michigan, which is the 27thGranite City location. The new restaurant features a contemporary, upscale design that is an enhanced prototype for future restaurants. The Troy location is located at 699 West Big Beaver Road, next to the PNC Bank Building at the corner of Big Beaver Road and I-75, has seating for 300 guests and is approximately 9,800 square feet.
The Troy location features a newly designed interior with a wrap-around bar which flows into an atrium, an exposed kitchen and a central wood-fired pizza oven. In addition to more than 90 made-from-scratch menu items, regional favorites and locally sourced ingredients will be featured.
“Over five years ago, the Granite City team identified the site on West Big Beaver Road because it is a perfect location for a Granite City restaurant based on the level of upscale development and demographics,” said Rob Doran, Chief Executive Officer of Granite City Food & Brewery. “We secured the property with the intention of developing it when the timing was right. This site was ideal for Granite City Food & Brewery’s polished-casual menu that features made-from- scratch food along with our own handcrafted beer. We are excited to become part of the vibrant Troy and Detroit-area restaurant scene. Our new prototype meets all of our expectations for this site.”
In May 2011, the Company sold $9.0 million of convertible preferred stock to Concept Development Partners (CDP) in partnership with Dallas-based private equity firm, CIC Partners, and entered into a $10.0 million credit facility with Fifth Third Bank. The transaction brought the Company capital, additional management and several new, experienced board members, including Mike Rawlings, former President of Pizza Hut, a Founding Partner of CIC Partners, and current Mayor of Dallas, Lou Mucci, former CFO of BJ’s Restaurants, Michael Staenberg, President of THF Realty, Fouad Bashour, a Founding Partner of CIC Partners, and Rob Doran, former Executive Vice President of McDonalds’s. Rob Doran now serves as the Company’s CEO. Since CDP’s investment, the Company has been developing growth plans for existing Granite City restaurants as well as the construction of new Granite City restaurants.
In late 2011, the Company acquired the assets of five Cadillac Ranch restaurants and related intellectual property, and Fifth Third Bank increased the Company’s credit facility by $12.0 million. The Company has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of a sixth Cadillac Ranch restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania subject to issuance of the required liquor license. This acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012.
Granite City Food & Brewery Ltd develops and operates two casual dining concepts: Granite City Food & Brewery and Cadillac Ranch All American Bar & Grill®. Granite City Food & Brewery is a polished casual American restaurant that features a great dining experience with affordable, high-quality menu items prepared from made-from-scratch recipes, served in generous portions. There is a brewery onsite, serving hand-crafted and micro brews. Granite City opened its first restaurant in 1999 and is expanding nationwide; there are currently 27 Granite City restaurants in 13 states. Cadillac Ranch restaurants feature freshly prepared, authentic, All-American cuisine in a fun, dynamic environment. Its patrons enjoy a warm, Rock N’ Roll inspired atmosphere, with plenty of room for friends, music and dancing. The Cadillac Ranch menu is diverse with offerings ranging from homemade meatloaf to pasta dishes, all freshly prepared using quality ingredients. The Company purchased its first Cadillac Ranch in November, 2011 and has since purchased four additional Cadillac Ranch restaurants along with its intellectual property. The Company currently operates five Cadillac Ranch restaurants in four states. Additional information about Granite City Food & Brewery can be found at www.gcfb.com.
