Arooga's Grille House & Sports Bar, the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based casual restaurant and bar with nine locations in Central Pennsylvania, announced it has entered into a multi-unit franchise agreement with WingDoctor LLC., a company owned by Dr. Frantz Muse and Didier Chérubin, to build a minimum of three locations by 2018, beginning in Chicago as early as summer of 2015 and in the Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, area by 2017.
"This is an exciting time for Arooga's Franchise expansion. We couldn't be more pleased to announce this partnership with Dr. Muse and Mr. Chérubin, who immediately recognized what makes Arooga's special," says Keith Swade, director of franchise development for Arooga's. "We have a blueprint to take our world-class brand to the next level, and we are excited to introduce Arooga's to the Windy City and Arizona markets."
Arooga's announced that Baum Realty Group will begin its search for the next Arooga's location in Chicago this week.
"We researched and explored what seemed like hundreds of opportunities, and felt the best fit for us was Arooga's," Dr. Muse says. "We found the experience to be exceptional, a family-oriented environment with a menu focused on fresh, quality ingredients and great selection of draft beers and with over a hundred TVs, always the best seat in the house for sports."
Chérubin adds, "We are thrilled to make Chicago and Arizona the newest members of Arooga's nation. This really is the beginning of a dream come true."
Arooga's was selected as America's Next Top Restaurant Franchise, beating more than 250 entrants from 36 states in a program co-sponsored by Sysco Foods and The Franchise Edge in a nationwide search to find an independent restaurant to become the next great restaurant franchise.
"Arooga's comes from humble beginnings, but we knew from the start that we were on to something exceptional and unique that would one day go nationwide," says Gary Huether, Jr., president and co-founder of Arooga's. "We are truly excited about bringing Arooga's to Chicago. It is one of my favorite cities and has such a great tradition of great food and great sports. I look forward to seeing our guests' reactions when we open the doors next summer and we show them what a great sports bar and grill is all about."
Arooga's recently celebrated its sixth anniversary and opened its ninth Central Pennsylvania location, in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania in September, and plans to open its tenth corporate location in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in February 2015.
Arooga's also broke ground in July on the first of 15 planned restaurants over the next five years in New England. The first of those locations will open adjacent to the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Connecticut in March 2015, and will be the premiere sports bar in America.
The New England development is the result of a multi-unit franchise agreement with The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, which has two additional locations under development for 2015.
