Two new Johnny Rockets locations opened in Qatar

Nevin Barich

ALISO VIEJO, California , October 28, 2013 (press release) – Haidar Al-Naqueeb, Now Operates Sixteen Restaurants in Gulf Arab States

This past September, long-time franchise partner Al-Kharafi Global Trading & Contracting Company, operated by Haidar Al-Naqueeb, unveiled the newest restaurant in his impressive Johnny Rockets portfolio – a 1,506-square-foot location on bustling Al Shafi Street in Ar Rayyan, the largest municipality in the state of Qatar. Ten days earlier, a similar sized Johnny Rockets opened at the Sheikh Ahmed Al-Thani office building on Al Ittihad Street in Al Gharafa.

Like the fourteen that preceded them, the new restaurants bring Americana to the Arabian Peninsula with the same flavorful food, friendly service and fun, timeless ambiance that residents and area visitors have enjoyed for the past seventeen years. The all-American menu features made-to-order, fresh, never frozen, hamburgers, American Fries served with a ketchup smiley face, hand-spun shakes and classic sandwiches. Dancing servers, twirled straws and upbeat music from the past eight decades create an interactive guest experience not found elsewhere in the Middle East.

"Over the years, Johnny Rockets has proven to be an unparalleled leader in the hamburger category in the Gulf Arab States," said Al-Naqueeb. "Our two new restaurants will allow even more guests the opportunity to experience what makes Johnny Rockets so unique, and to see for themselves what sets us apart from other hamburger options in the area."

"Because we, as a franchisor, have such exacting standards for the construction and operation of our restaurants, it's challenging enough to open one Johnny Rockets restaurant - let alone two," added John Fuller, CEO of Johnny Rockets. "It's a testament to Haidar's business acumen, attention to detail and commitment to maintaining our brand over nearly two decades that he could execute two nearly simultaneous openings so seamlessly."

The addition of the new restaurants brings Al-Naqueeb's total to sixteen, making him Johnny Rocket's largest and most experienced international franchise partner, having opened the company's first location outside the U.S. in Salmiyah, Kuwait in December 1995. Naqueeb now operates Johnny Rockets restaurants in Kuwait (7), Qatar (4), Saudi Arabia (3) and Bahrain (2), and plans to add locations at Ezdan Mall in Al Gharafa and in the Aster Building on Tahlia Street in Jeddah this fall.

For more information about Johnny Rockets and its franchising opportunities, go to www.johnnyrockets.com.

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