Restaurant Franchising: Pat & Oscar's Debuts Franchise Program
Pat & Oscar's announces franchise partners; popular fast-casual family chain to expand, add franchisees.
-- Chain Leader, 2/19/2009 4:54:00 PM
PRESS RELEASE: SAN DIEGO (February 19, 2009) - As part of an overall strategic growth plan, Pat & Oscar's Restaurants (www.patandoscars.com) today is unveiling its first-ever franchise partner program. Under the new ownership and experienced leadership of President and CEO John Kaufman, the Pat & Oscar's franchise program is well underway, "We are proud and fortunate to welcome industry veterans Steve Gratz and Ron Mehrens as our first two franchise partners" said Kaufman. "Thanks to Jim Konstantinides, our Vice President of Business Development, we are guided by a true industry expert in working to develop Pat & Oscar's franchise growth strategy."
Pat & Oscar's first franchisee is industry veteran Steve Gratz with more than 23 years of outstanding operational experience in the restaurant business including such well-known brands as Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Cheesecake Factory and Koo Koo Roo. Gratz has begun his franchising career with Pat & Oscar's by assuming operations of two existing company locations (Glendale, CA and Buena Park, CA).
"I chose Pat & Oscar's because it is a recognized brand that has been around since 1991 with a strong following in its core market of San Diego." Said Gratz. "I also chose the concept because of its quality of food, generous portions sold at prices families can afford and its award winning catering program," he added.
Joining Gratz is another restaurant industry veteran, the Mehrens family. Family patriarch Ron Mehrens, Sr. has been in the industry for nearly 40 years, spending time with such titans as McDonald's and Round Table Pizza and is currently a Baja Fresh Mexican Grill franchisee. Ron Mehrens Jr. works hand in hand with his father as the backbone of the team along with brother Kevin Mehrens who focuses on operations.
"We believe in the direction of the new management and consider it a huge growth opportunity to join the Pat & Oscar's family," said Mehrens, Sr.
"The franchising process creates a balanced synergy in which many talents and ideas can be brought together to enhance services and products for the guest as well as revitalizing the brand and its future success," added Jim Konstantinides, Vice President of Business Development at Pat & Oscar's, "The Pat & Oscar's family friendly atmosphere coupled with its no veto menu and fine tuned operations makes the concept a perfect fit for any market nationally and internationally. The footprint of these restaurants can range from 2,500 to 6,500 square feet with a very large portion of sales coming in from take home, delivery and catering."
"Our new franchisee partners give us a tremendous edge and a different look at how we can run our restaurants better in all areas and we are thrilled to welcome them into the Pat & Oscar's family," said Kaufman. "We look forward to learning and growing together in achieving the second coming of the Pat & Oscar's brand."
Since the company's founding in 1991 and emergence as one of the true pioneers in the "fast-casual" concept, all restaurants have been company owned and operated. Now, after overwhelming interest from various restaurant entrepreneurs and a desire to continue expansion, the company is welcoming franchisees aboard to help spur the restaurant's growth throughout the west, America's heartland and internationally.
Interested franchisees can log on to www.patandoscars.com to learn more about the company and its mission and register to receive more detailed franchise information by completing the Initial Franchise Inquiry.
About Pat & Oscar's
Founded in 1991, Pat & Oscar's specializes in providing diners excellent value on chicken, ribs, pizza and pasta meals, along with tasty sandwiches, fresh salads and their world-famous breadsticks. Headquartered in San Diego, Pat & Oscar's has locations throughout Southern California. To learn more about Pat & Oscar's, review a menu or download other information, please visit www.patandoscars.com.
