Legendary Restaurant Brands has decided to move forward with its franchise development, proving its growth has no intention of slowing down. Legendary Restaurant Brands Chairman and CEO Paul Mangiamele recently announced that the company has executed a franchise agreement with Leo Nguyen to bring Bennigan’s On The Fly to Peoria. They will be taking the space initially planned for BurgerIM at Sunrise Promenade, located at Lake Pleasant Parkway and Hatfield.
Bennigan’s was initially founded in 1976, with Bennigan’s On The Fly being established in 2014. Their ‘On The Fly’ locations are fast casual restaurants serving made-from-scratch signature items including hand-crafted, half-pound Prime burgers, their World Famous Monte Cristo and their trademarked cult favorite Death By Chocolate™ dessert.
“I was searching for a well-established and renowned brand to join, and Bennigan’s unique culture and visionary strategy jumped out at me,” Nguyen says. “I was drawn to their highly personal yet extensive support and training. Coupled with their franchise model and compelling unit economics, Bennigan’s became the clear-cut winner for me. The guidance Bennigan’s has provided throughout this process really makes me believe there’s never been a better time to be a part of the Legendary franchise family.”
“Despite the tremendous headwinds, the deep emotional connections to Bennigan’s and Steak and Ale remain stronger than ever,” Mangiamele says. “Bennigan’s resilience has been demonstrated now for over half a century. As the ‘Founding Fathers’ of casual dining, the Bennigan’s On The Fly brand was a natural extension to deliver the Bennigan’s experience in a smaller footprint with lower startup costs, faster market penetration, operating efficiencies and market share capture. Tough times don’t last … tough people do, and Leo possesses the business acumen, passion and people skills for success. We welcome him to our elite Bennigan’s culture.”
Community feedback at this news has been quite mixed, with some excited for the resurgence of the brand, while others are disappointed at the caliber of restaurant – wishing for more fine dining options instead.
