News

Captain D's announces opening of four new locations

Pace of current development will leave chain at threshold of 600 units by year's end.

July 19, 2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 20 /PRNewswire/-- Captain D's announced today that it has opened four new stores over the past four weeks and that the company is on pace for its biggest new unit development year since 1994. The new restaurants include a company-owned store that opened in Madison, Ind., on June 21. Plus, three new Captain D's franchisees, David Chunn, Zach Steed and Val and Jim McClure, all opened their first locations on June 28 in Hattiesburg, Miss., Villa Rica, Ga., and Dahlonega, Ga., respectively. "This is the first time in nearly a decade that we have had the opportunity to aggressively develop the brand with new locations, so this is definitely an exciting period for everyone in the system. We are especially pleased that some of our newest franchisees have wasted little time in getting their first units open and that our existing franchisees are also developing new locations," says Ron Walker, president and chief operating officer for Captain D's. Currently, for its 2004 fiscal year, Captain D's has opened four new company locations and nine new franchise units. By the time its fiscal year ends in October, Captain D's anticipates that an additional four company stores and 10 franchise locations will open. That would give the company 27 new openings, the biggest single year for new store development since 1994. It would also push the company's total stores open to 594, with the 600-unit plateau to be reached in early 2005. "We feel there is an underserved market out there for consumers who want to visit a quick-casual seafood restaurant. It's our goal to build new stores in the smartest way possible to fill that niche," adds Walker.Nearly all of the Captain D's locations opening in 2004 will feature the company's prototype design, a new 2,400 square foot building, seating 70 people that includes: -- The chain's fast-casual look which recreates the allure of a dockside seafood shack featuring naturally aged woods, hanging steel lights and a galvanized steel awning suspended over a portion of the dining room -- A smaller unit design that offers significant savings in land, building and equipment costs -- An open kitchen with T-Line operation that allows managers to observe the dining room and customers to see the freshness of the cooking process -- A Fast Track drive-thru timing system that in testing has improved the drive-thru times of Captain D's locationsAbout Captain D'sCaptain D's Seafood is a pioneer and leader in the fast-casual dining category. The company offers its customers great seafood at reasonable prices in a relaxed environment that embodies the fun and romance of dock-side seafood shacks. Each Captain D's restaurant serves a seafood menu centered around the company's signature fried fish, which is hand cut, hand battered and made to order to ensure freshness. The restaurants also offer premium- quality baked or broiled fish, as well as shrimp, chicken and home-style side dishes. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Captain D's owns, operates and franchises 580 restaurants in 23 states. The first store was opened in Donelson, Tenn., in 1969 as Mr. D's. The company later changed its name to Captain D's and became Captain D's, Inc. in August 2000. Source:Captain D's, Inc.