INDUSTRY VETERENS JOIN TO ACCELERATE GROWTH OF J. CHRISTOPHER'S RESTAURANTS
Unique concept to begin expanding in markets throughout the Southeast
ATLANTA, Oct 1, 2007 – Restaurant industry veterans Dick Holbrook and Sam Haddock have joined with J. Christopher’s founders Chris Brogdon and Jeff (J.) McCann to create a new company designed to spur growth of the J. Christopher’s brand. The company has experienced recent growth in Atlanta with the addition of four new restaurants over the past 18 months and is currently planning to open eight additional restaurants over the next 12 months in Atlanta, Macon, Ga. and Nashville, Tenn.
The agreement calls for the restaurant chain’s founders to continue to operate the existing restaurants and to serve on the management committee of the new company, J. Christopher’s Restaurants, LLC. Dick Holbrook will serve as president and Sam Haddock will serve as chief operating officer of the new company and both will manage the day-to-day operations.
“J. Christopher’s is a unique casual-dining restaurant concept that has proven to be extremely successful by focusing on breakfast, brunch and lunch,” says Dick Holbrook, president of J. Christopher’s Restaurants, LLC. “Sam and I intend to employ a growth strategy that includes both company-owned and franchised restaurants, and we expect to begin franchising in late first quarter of 2008. We believe J. Christopher’s will thrive as a franchised concept, because it is in a new growth segment of the industry and will offer franchisees an exciting new concept with excellent sales and profit margins.”
Founded in 1996, J. Christopher’s is a collection of casual dining restaurants serving breakfast, brunch and lunch in 16 restaurants including Atlanta (14), Savannah, Ga. (1) and Tampa, Fla.(1). J. Christopher’s provides cheerful, relaxing neighborhood eateries serving all the traditional breakfast favorites and a few new ones in a bright, contemporary atmosphere. “J. Christopher’s does not have the look and feel of a chain and with our expansion we will continue to utilize this approach ensuring that each restaurant fits well with the surrounding neighborhood,” said J. McCann, founder and partner of J. Christopher’s.
Holbrook is the former president and chief operating officer of AFC Enterprises, which was the parent company of Church’s Chicken, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, Cinnabon and Seattle Coffee Company. Holbrook was instrumental in the turnaround of AFC and its Church’s and Popeyes brands. Holbrook also has more than 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles with Arby’s Inc. and Hospitality Franchise Systems, Inc., franchisor for Ramada, Howard Johnson and Days Inn hotels. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Rare Hospitality International and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
Haddock is manager of the Red Hawk Restaurant Group, LLC and Red Hawk Enterprises, which owns and operates seven Moe’s Southwest Grill and Donatos Pizza Restaurants respectively. Haddock also has extensive franchisor experience serving as director of operations for Rally’s Hamburgers, chief operating officer for Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits and chief operating officer at the RTM Restaurant Group for the Mrs. Winner’s and Lee’s Famous Recipe concepts.
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