The Sultanate of Oman is getting its first taste of one of the world’s most popular Italian restaurant brands, with the grand opening of a new Romano’s Macaroni Grill.
The new restaurant, located in the Oman Avenues Mall—the largest shopping mall in Muscat, the capital city—officially opened on December 12. It continues Macaroni Grill’s international expansion, even as the brand accelerates its growth throughout its U.S. market.
“We are very excited to introduce our brand to the people of Oman and in particular to the residents of the beautiful city of Muscat,” says James Deyo, executive vice president of franchising and development at Romano’s Macaroni Grill. “The Salen Bin Lahej Group has been an outstanding franchise partner of ours for many years, and they have done a masterful job preparing and opening their newest Macaroni Grill.”
The hospitality division of the Saleh Bin Lahej Group is the exclusive franchisee of Romano’s Macaroni Grill in Egypt, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
“Ever since we embraced the Macaroni Grill brand in 2007, we have been expanding throughout the Middle East,” Mohammed Saleh Bin Lahej says. “We now have four outlets in the UAE, one in Egypt, and now our newly opened restaurant in the Oman Avenues Mall.”
Macaroni Grill has grown to nearly 150 company-owned locations in 33 states, plus 25 franchise locations in the U.S., and 11 other countries (Mexico, Puerto Rico, Germany, Taiwan, Japan, and the Middle East (Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman). The company generates more than $300 million in U.S. sales and another $70 million through its franchise operations.
