News

Burger 21 opens in Fort Myers

December 18, 2013

Burger 21 has announced the grand opening of its first restaurant in the Fort Myers, Fla., market, located in the Gulf Coast Town Center at 9902 Gulf Coast Main Street, D150. Furthering its expansion in Southwest Florida, the brand also has signed its second franchise agreement for the Sarasota market. Currently, Burger 21 has 10 restaurants open and 18 franchised locations in development across the U.S., according to a company press release.

"We're extremely happy to continue our expansion in Florida and build a presence for the brand in new parts of the state," said Mark Johnston, Burger 21 president and chief concept officer and president of Front Burner Brands, management company for Burger 21. "We plan to continue developing in additional Florida markets and look forward to working closely with our new franchisees to help them realize the benefits of growing with Burger 21."

"My team and I are excited to bring Burger 21's "beyond the better burger" experience to Fort Myers," said Franchisee Sulei Hessami. "With consumer demand for fast casual experiences on the rise, we are confident that Burger 21 and its extensive menu will fit perfectly in the Gulf Coast Town Center and neighboring communities."

In addition, Melting Pot franchisees and long-time friends, Barry Berkowitz and Brian Marshall, have signed an agreement to develop a second Burger 21 location in Sarasota. Berkowitz and Marshall's first unit, inked in early 2013 for the Sarasota market, is expected to open in 2014. This agreement brings the number of new units signed this year to 14.

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