After recently opening 3 new restaurants and re-emerging in familiar markets such as Philadelphia (Langhorne, PA) and Cleveland (Elyria, OH), Ground Round has signed deals to open 9 more restaurants and return again to known markets in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Minnesota. “We continue to have success returning to markets where the brand is known and our sustained system wide sales growth further demonstrates the strength and loyalty for our brand,” states Jack Crawford, President & CEO of Ground Round IOC. In New Jersey, Recreation Centers LLC has signed an agreement to secure territory and develop 5 new Ground Rounds over the next 3-5 years, including 2 that will open later this year in Bradley Beach and East Windsor, NJ. Both openings are conversions of existing restaurants which are located within bowling centers that are also operated by Recreation Centers LLC. “Ground Round is a brand we all remember here in New Jersey and we are proud and excited to bring this brand back to the area,” adds Mike Little, CEO of Recreation Centers LLC.. “The support from these communities for Ground Round’s return is contagious and our overall strategy includes upgrades to our entire restaurant and bowling facilities to create an experience that offers the finest atmosphere, value and entertainment for our guests!”
Ground Round has also signed deals to open a new location in Oshkosh, WI and 3 more in Minnesota, all to open later this year. These include a new prototype building planned for Waconia, MN and 3 conversions of existing restaurants, including Rochester, MN. “There’s a buzz around town about Ground Round coming back and the folks here in Rochester can’t wait,” offers Joe Powers, partner in the Rochester, MN development. “My partners and I knew about Ground Round and its history, but were especially impressed with their flexible franchise terms and unique opportunity to own not only a franchise, but a membership share in the overall company, where we’ll always have voting rights and input in the brand’s future direction.”
The Ground Round IOC represents a group of independent franchise owners who purchased the Ground Round Franchise Rights and Trademarks, and have owned and led its own brand since 2004. Comparable restaurant sales were up 4% in the first quarter of 2012, which is the 8th straight quarter of system wide comp sales growth for the brand dating back to April 2010. Ground Round IOC operates restaurants in 12 states spread across the Midwest and Northeast areas of the United States, with headquarters based in Freeport, ME. For more information, visit www.groundroundfranchise.com.
