STRATEGIC PARTNERS
September 24, 2012
VooDoo BBQ & Grill is introducing its Cajun-Creole BBQ fusion menu to South Florida with the planned opening of its first Florida franchise in Pembroke Pines in mid-November. Construction is underway on the 2,220-square-foot restaurant that will seat 60 people indoors and 30 outdoors. It's located in the Pembroke Square Shopping Plaza at 151 N. Hiatus Road.
New Orleans-based Voodoo has locations opening and under development in more than 56 cities and five states. It opened its first restaurant on Mardi Gras Day 2002 on the parade route in New Orleans.
Last year, restaurant development company, BBQ Boyz LLC , headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., purchased rights to fund, develop and operate up to 26 VooDoo locations in Florida, south of the Panhandle. The deal was the largest in the restaurant chain's 10-year history, nearly doubling the company's existing or planned locations.
BBQ Boyz Managing Partner Jack Flechner is no stranger to the restaurant business. He owned and sold several Five Guys franchises in South Florida before learning about the VooDoo brand.
"When I first discovered the concept and tried the food, I was instantly sold," said Flechner. "It's different than other barbecue because it's infused with the spice, culture and magic of New Orleans."
BBQ Boyz LLC is partially funding the Florida franchises with money from investors who are participating in the U.S. government's EB-5 Visa program. The program gives green cards to foreigners (and their families) who invest in a qualified EB-5 project. The visa is designed to stimulate the flow of money into the United States, while at the same time, create new jobs. Each investment into BBQ Boyz varies, depending on the site and how much work must go into construction.
"In addition to bringing a great new food concept to South Florida, VooDoo BBQ is going to be bringing hundreds of new jobs to Florida and contributing to the economies of the communities they're in," said Joe Sloboda, a partner in Exclusive Visas, which is promoting the foreign investment opportunity on behalf of the restaurant group.
While Pembroke Pines will be the first store to open in South Florida, BBQ Boyz has signed leases in Delray Beach at 640 Atlantic Ave. and in Kendall at 8326 Mills Drive at the Palms Shops. The 3,000-square-foot Delray Beach restaurant, which is expected to open in February 2013, will have indoor and outdoor seating for more than 125 people. The 2,500-square-foot Kendall restaurant will seat approximately 60 inside and 25 outdoors, and is slated to open in March 2013. BBQ Boyz is currently scouting for additional restaurant locations in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Palm Beach areas to be opened in the next two years.
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