Burger 21 Opens First Restaurant in Virginia

Burger 21 , a new better burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., has announced the opening of its first restaurant in Ashburn, Va. located at 43800 Central Station Drive. This location is one of four units to be developed in the Greater Washington, D.C. area over the next several years. Currently, Burger 21 has 11 restaurants open and 17 franchised locations in development across the U.S.

"We are very excited to open the first Burger 21 in Virginia," said franchisee Ray Patel. "Our new restaurant will provide guests with a unique dining experience that encompasses a variety of chef-inspired menu options at a great price. We look forward to expanding the brand's presence throughout Fairfax County, Va. and Montgomery County, Md. over the next several years."

Highlights of Burger 21 Ashburn include:

• More than 50 new team members hired in Ashburn
• Approximately 3,200 square feet
• Seating for 112 customers
• Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

In addition to offering guests a variety of burgers like the Tex-Mex Haystack, Spicy Thai Shrimp, Black Bean and Chicken Marsala, the Ashburn location will offer craft beer and wine by the glass.

"Ashburn is a great city for us to introduce our 21 crafted burgers and hand-spun shakes," said Dan Stone, vice president of franchise development for Front Burner Brands. "As we continue to drive expansion in the region, we aim to develop a minimum of 15 additional restaurants in the Greater Washington, D.C. area so guests can enjoy Burger 21's great food and ambience at more locations."

Burger 21 has developed a unique culture in its restaurants that includes a strong commitment to the communities it serves. Since its inception, the company has provided more than $71,000 in contributions as part of its "B Charitable" initiative, in which it donates 10 percent of its restaurants' sales to local schools and charities on the 21 st of each month.

Burger 21 has been named one of Fast Casual's Top 100 "Movers and Shakers" of 2013. The concept ranked No. 22 based on its variety of innovative recipes and recent expansion. In addition, the franchise's gluten-free menu received the No. 1 ranking in the "Top 10 Menu Innovations" category and Mark Johnston was recognized as one of the "Top 20 People" for his strategic leadership in the growth and development of the brand.

To further fuel Burger 21's expansion in Virginia and across the country, the company is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a live webinar on Jan. 14 at 3:30 p.m. EST. To register, or to learn more about franchising opportunities with Burger 21, please visit www.burger21franchise.com/events.aspx.

Burger 21 is seeking single- and multi-unit operators with restaurant experience to join its upscale fast casual dining concept. Franchisee candidates should have a minimum net worth of $500,000 and liquid assets of at least $200,000 per unit. Burger 21 will be developed through both single-unit agreements and Area Development Agreements. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisees can expect the total investment for one restaurant to be approximately $414,495 - $832,495. The initial franchise fee is $40,000; however, reduced franchise fees apply for Area Development Agreements of four or more units.

To learn more about ownership opportunities with Burger 21, contact Ashley Pollard, franchise development manager for Burger 21, at 813-425-6252 or apollard@burger21.com or visit www.burger21franchise.com.

About Burger 21
With 11 locations open in Tampa Bay, Fla., Orlando, Fla., Voorhees, N.J., Atlanta, Ga., Charlotte, N.C., and Ashburn, Va., and 17 in development in six states, Burger 21 is a "beyond the better burger" fast-casual franchise concept founded in 2010. Burger 21 is a chef-inspired brand with offerings including 21 unique burger creations ranging from hand-crafted, freshly ground Certified Angus Beef to chicken, turkey, vegetarian, shrimp and tuna burgers, made-to-order salads, all-beef hot dogs, hand-breaded chicken tenders and an extensive shake bar including hand-spun shakes, floats and sundaes. Burger 21 is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.burger21.com.

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