Johnny Rockets

The Johnny Rockets Group Inc. is an American restaurant franchise whose themed decor is based upon 1950s diner-style restaurants. Décor includes Coca-Cola advertising, featuring nearly life-size cardboard illustrations of women in World War II armed services uniforms (see WASP- Women Airforce Service Pilots), individual jukebox stations, chrome accents and red vinyl seats.

The Johnny Rockets Group Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryBurger restaurant
FoundedJune 6, 1986 (1986-06-06)
Los Angeles, California, United States
FounderRonn Teitelbaum
Headquarters1855 Boston Rd Suite 300 Wilbraham, MA 01095,[1]
Number of locations
320 (2010)[2]
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Lee Sanders, President, CEO, Board of Directors
ProductsAmerican Food Choices
Revenue$300 million (2011) [3]
OwnerSun Capital Partners
Websitejohnnyrockets.com

The menu, presentation, counter seating and grilling area are based on an original restaurant from 1947 (still operating today), The Apple Pan in West Los Angeles. Hamburgers are grilled-to-order in full view of the customers and are served wrapped in paper in metal baskets.[4][5][6] One location in Hawaii is called "Rock 'n Fun" and also has an arcade.[7]

History

Johnny Rockets was founded on June 6, 1986, by Ronn Teitelbaum of Los Angeles, California, and "crafted as a 'nongimmicky' recreation of the 1940s-vintage malt shops of his childhood". The first restaurant was established as a 20-stool counter operation on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.[5] This location permanently closed on October 26, 2015.[8] Ronn Teitelbaum died on September 11, 2000, at age 61.[5]

Johnny Rockets at Six Flags Over Texas

In February 2007, it was announced[9] that RedZone Capital, the private equity firm of Daniel Snyder, was set to acquire the chain. Snyder announced plans to expand the chain both within the United States and worldwide, including the launch of smaller outlets known as Johnny Rockets Express. Snyder recruited industry veteran Lee Sanders from Buffalo Wild Wings, formerly with Dunkin Brands, General Mills, and Pepsico, to serve as President and CEO, and Board member. Sanders ran the business for almost 4 years.

A sit-down restaurant owned by Six Flags (Red Zone is the largest shareholder), Trappers Adirondack Grill, was converted to a Johnny Rockets in June 2008.[10]

In April 2009, the new Yankee Stadium opened with Johnny Rockets stands throughout the site. These stands serve traditional Johnny Rockets hamburgers, french fries, shakes, and malts, among other menu items. FedExField, home of the Washington Redskins (the stadium and team are both owned by Snyder, whose company owned Johnny Rockets at the time), features Johnny Rockets concession areas.[11]

The world's largest Johnny Rockets franchise opened on June 6, 2012, at the corner of Abraham Lincoln Avenue and Bolivar Avenue in Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic. The restaurant has more than 6,000 square feet (560 m2) and seating for more than 200 guests.[12]

In 2013, RedZone Capital Management sold the company to Sun Capital Partners.[13]

Johnny Rockets in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, an international location

On August 13, 2020, Johnny Rockets was acquired by FAT Brands (parent company of Fatburger) for $25 million.[14]

International

Johnny Rockets operates restaurants in Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, North Cyprus, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.[15]

The first Johnny Rockets restaurant in Pakistan was opened in 2013 in Karachi.[16][17] and later in Lahore and Islamabad in 2014.[18] Johnny Rockets opened their first outlet in Bangladesh at Uttara of Dhaka in November 2016 which was later relocated to Banani. Johnny Rockets opened its first branch in Paraguay on December 16, 2016, in Shopping Mariscal, Asuncion.[19][20] In 2016, they also opened branches in Peru and Bolivia.

The first european Johnny Rockets restaurant was opened in Italy, precisely in Brescia, on September 22, 2016, in Elnos Shopping Center.

Johnny Rockets Canada has five Canadian locations, two Located in Victoria, British Columbia, two located in Vancouver, British Columbia, and one in Windsor, Ontario.[21]

Several Royal Caribbean International cruise ships have Johnny Rockets restaurants operating onboard.

In the media

In 2009, the company and CEO John Fuller was featured in the hit TV show Undercover Boss on CBS in the US and on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.

The sixth episode of the anime series Blood Blockade Battlefront features a parody of the restaurant called "Jack & Rockets" which the characters Leonardo Watch and Nej order from a lot.

The action/comedy series Wrestlicious featured comedy sketches with "50s Girl Shauna Na" which were filmed at Johnny Rockets in downtown Tampa Florida.

See also

References
  1. "Our Company".
  2. Volpe, Michael (July 19, 2010). "Johnny Rockets Offers Loans to Credit-Strapped Franchisees". Orange County Business Journal. 33 (29): 4.
  3. https://www.cnbc.com/id/43255568
  4. "latimemachines.com".
  5. Spector, Amy; Martin, Richard (September 25, 2000). "Ronn Teitelbaum, Johnny Rockets founder, dies at 61". Nation's Restaurant News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010.
  6. "The Apple Pan hickory burger revisited (with clear eyes)". Chowhound.com. February 18, 2007.
  7. "Rock 'n Fun".
  8. "World Famous Melrose Avenue Landmark Closes It's [sic] Doors". Melrose Action. October 27, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  9. Ross, Andrew (2007-02-09). "Footballs, Funhouses and Fries". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  10. "Trapper's Adirondack Grille to be converted to new Johnny Rockets restaurant". Adirondack Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  11. "RedZone Capital to Acquire Johnny Rockets". Display and Design Ideas. February 13, 2007.
  12. "World's Largest Johnny Rockets Restaurant Opens". RestaurantNews.com. 2012-06-13.
  13. Luna, Nancy (June 18, 2013). "O.C.-based burger chain Johnny Rockets sold". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  14. "Burger merger: Fatburger owner is buying Johnny Rockets for $25 million". August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  15. "Our Locations". Johnny Rockets. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  16. "Johnny Rockets set to rock the coast of Karachi". The Express Tribune. 12 June 2013.
  17. "Johnny Rockets Becomes Latest International Brand To Open Doors In Karachi". AdGeekDaily. December 6, 2013. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013.
  18. "Johnny Rockets reaches Pakistan". December 11, 2013.
  19. "Franquicia hamburguesera Johnny Rockets llega a Paraguay - Business Review América Latina". 19 October 2016.
  20. "Johnny Rockets Expands Into Italy, Paraguay, and Canada - QSR Magazine". 27 October 2016.
  21. "Locations". Johnny Rockets Canada. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
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