July 14, 2005
With 13 locations scheduled to open throughout
the Southeast, Florida-based R.J. Gator’s will experience record
growth, increasing its number of locations by more than 50% this year.
Jupiter, Fla. –
Since opening with one location on Indiantown Road nearly 20 years ago,
Florida-based R.J. Gator’s has grown to a 22-unit chain with locations
throughout the southeast. Within the next year, the company will
be increasing its size by more than 50%, with 12 openings scheduled in
2005.
Presently, R.J. Gator’s has eight corporately-owned
locations from Vero Beach to Boynton Beach, Florida; and 14 franchised
locations, including three in North Carolina, one in Louisiana, one in
Alabama and six in Florida. This year’s expansion will bring a
second location to Birmingham, Alabama and will also introduce the
concept to Fort Worth, Texas and new regions of Florida.
Two
grand opening celebrations have already taken place this year: the
corporately-owned Stuart (Florida) location, which set sales records
during its first weeks; and a Fort Worth, Texas location, the first of
a 3-store franchise agreement for that area. Other stores
scheduled to open this year will be located in Oviedo, Tampa (part of a
10-store franchise agreement), Miami, Sarasota, New Port Richey,
Melbourne, Port Charlotte and Birmingham, Alabama (2 locations).
During the first part of 2006, R.J. Gator’s will enter the Orlando and
Jacksonville markets.
Mr. Tim Timoteo, who founded R.J. Gator’s
in 1986, came to Florida from Pennsylvania, where he owned a successful
chain of steakhouses. Searching for a concept that would stand
out among the others, he created a Florida-style restaurant with a
Caribbean-influenced menu and a captivating Everglades-themed
ambiance. R.J. Gator’s is a hometown grill and bar where Florida
springs to life with a rustic, woodsy and spacious atmosphere,
decorated with lifelike alligators and other elements of nature.
Most
new locations are freestanding, between 4,000 and 6,000 square feet,
and include large outdoor patios, U-shaped indoor-outdoor bars, plasma
screen televisions and open air kitchens.
“I am
very pleased to be expanding the restaurant into new markets,” said Mr.
Timoteo (“Mr. T.”). “Whether guests visit an R.J. Gator’s in
Texas, North Carolina or Alabama, they will immediately feel like they
are on a journey through the Florida Everglades, which is why so many
states throughout the southeast have embraced the concept.”
As
the company experiences this significant growth, its menu is also
evolving from wings and sandwiches to a seafood grill with market fresh
fish and steaks. R.J. Gator’s is now known for signature menu
items like the Alligator Tail, Havana Banana Chicken with black beans
and rice and Handmade Coconut Shrimp with sweet plantains. In
addition, most new locations feature a raw bar and signature drinks,
such as the Alligator Alley Punch.
For more information, please visit www.rjgators.com.
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Media Contact:
Quantified Marketing Group
407.936.1010
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