ATLANTA — Arby's Restaurant Group has signed development commitments for 34 new Arby's restaurants.
The agreements, which include three new and 10 existing franchisees, provide for the development of new Arby's restaurants in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Texas.
"We are working towards a long-term goal of having 5,000 domestic Arby's restaurants so that we can increase access and convenience to our loyal customers," said Tom Garrett, president and chief operating officer of Arby's Restaurant Group Inc.
The franchisees include:
· Charlie Harmon currently owns and operates 47 Arby's in the Phoenix market and has signed on to open 16 more.
· Mark Rhude currently owns and operates eight Arby's restaurants in Arizona and has agreed to open three Arby's restaurants in Tucson, Rincon and Oro Valley, Ariz.
· Bob McDonald currently owns and operates seven Arby's in Ohio and has signed on to open two more located in New Albany and Pataskala, Ohio.
· Stephen Huse joined Arby's just three years after its inception in 1964 and currently owns and operates 30 restaurants in Illinois and Indiana. Huse has agreed to open an additional Arby's restaurant in Clinton, Iowa.
· Lunan Corporation has been a part of the Arby's organization for nearly 40 years and holds the distinction of opening Arby's 3,500th restaurant in Antioch, Ill., in 2006. Lunan currently owns and operates 64 Arby's restaurants in California, Illinois, and Nevada, and has signed on for one more to open in Yorkville, Ill.
· James Pipino joined Arby's as a franchisee in 1992 and currently owns and operates 10 restaurants across Ohio. Pipino has signed an agreement to open an additional Arby's in North Lima, Ohio.
· William Brusslan owns and operates three Arby's restaurants in California and has agreed to add one more in Simi Valley, Calif.
· Michael P. Schiappa has been with the Arby's system since 2002 with six restaurants in Florida. Schiappa has signed on to open one more Arby's in Fort Pierce, Fla.
· Michael Kay and Jason Palmer have agreed to add an additional Arby's restaurant in Douglas, Ga. Kay and Palmer currently own and operate one Arby's in Vidalia, Ga., and joined the system in 2005.
· Patrick Higgins owns and operates one Arby's restaurant in Troy, Mich., and has agreed to open another in Sterling Heights, Mich.
· Alfred Wong & Kenneth Wan will build an Arby's in Tustin, Calif.
· Gene Lehman has agreed to build four restaurants in the Orlando area and one restaurant in Gainesville, Fla.
· Perrin Larsh has a commitment to build one Arby's in Hill Country Village, Texas.
