The new Famous Dave's are expected to open over the next six years. New England Barbecue Ventures is owned by Joe Cloutier and is based in Rockport, ME. Cloutier currently owns 15 Denny's restaurants in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.David Goronkin, president and chief executive officer of Famous Dave's, says that Cloutier has been "incredibly successful" in operating restaurants in the Northeastern US.
Last month, Goronkin said the company had signed deal for development agreements to franchise eight new Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que restaurants in Florida and West Virginia. JP's Bar-B-Que LLC, bought the right to franchise five Famous Dave's restaurants in Charlotte, Collier and Lee Counties in Southwest Florida, and the restaurants are expected to open over the next five years.
JP's Bar-B-Que is owned by Jim Gyarmathy and is based in Fort Myers, FL. Gyarmathy owns 11 Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises in Southwest Florida and has previously franchised Wendy's in Southwest Florida and T.G.I. Friday's in Louisiana.
REX Inc. has purchased the right to franchise three Famous Dave's restaurants in West Virginia, and the restaurants are expected to open over the next four years. REX Inc. is owned by Forrest "Rex" Donahue and Barbara Donahue and is based in Barboursville, WV. Rex Donahue and family members own and operate Billy Bob's Super Wonderland, a 30,000-sf food and entertainment center in Barboursville. After opening its second restaurant in Philadelphia late last month, the restaurant company had 117 units.
Prior to these deals, there were no Famous Dave's restaurants in Florida or West Virginia.
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