Monahans, Texas, is about to get its first taste of Bennigan’s, the iconic brand beloved across the globe for its chef-driven American fare and friendly Irish hospitality.

Mayor David Cutbirth, who purchased the rights to bring a Bennigan’s franchise to his hometown, will join the Monahans Chamber of Commerce and Legendary Restaurant Brands Chairman and CEO Paul Mangiamele in hosting an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on  June 26.

The opening celebration will take place at 11 a.m. in front of the brand-new 5,600-square-foot restaurant, located at 603 West Interstate 20, near the Monahans Sandhills.

“I met my beautiful wife at Bennigan’s in Midland,” says Cutbirth, who has served as Monahans’ mayor for 25 years. “When I wanted to bring a brand to Monahans that fit our values and delivered the quality that our community deserves, Bennigan’s was naturally the only choice. I’m strongly committed to growing our economy and our new Bennigan’s brings over 100 job opportunities to our town. Everyone has a Bennigan’s story and ours will begin by sharing our deliciously authentic, value-driven food, innovative handcrafted cocktails and genuine West Texas hospitality.”

Monahans’ Bennigan’s will offer more than a dozen ice cold beers on tap, multiple HD TVs and plenty of banquet space. The menu features signature made-from-scratch Bennigan’s favorites like the World Famous Monte Cristo, Oh, Baby Back Ribs, the Turkey O’Toole, Lina’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich and a wide assortment of specialty drinks.

The Bennigan’s craveable menu also showcases three authentic Steak & Ale Classics – the Original Kensington Club, Hawaiian Chicken and Smothered Chicken. Guests will also love the true half-pound Prime Burgers with bold layers of flavors featuring the B.O.M.B (Bacon. Onion. Marmalade Bourbon.) and the Irishman Whiskey Glazed Burger with ale sautéed onions and Irish whiskey cream sauce.

“Bennigan’s is redefining the casual dining experience and we couldn’t be more thrilled to make our return to West Texas, with David leading the charge,” adds Mangiamele, who has led the renaissance of Bennigan’s since 2011. “Bennigan’s is an extraordinary brand with a storied history of serving made-from-scratch dishes with proprietary recipes. Our menu is about more than just innovation; it’s true menu disruption with bold flavor-forward dishes and Legendary favorites that evoke memories of a time when eating out was a special occasion. David’s love for the brand will return our one-of-a-kind dining experience to every guest in the Permian Basin and beyond.”

Monahans’ first Bennigan’s will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

As it redefines the casual dining segment, Legendary Restaurant Brands LLC continues to experience significant unit growth both domestically and internationally while achieving solid revenue growth over the last several years.

Since the end of 2012, the company has opened new franchise locations in Clarksburg and Frederick, Md.; Sacramento, Calif.; Melbourne, Fla., Lexington, Ky.; Veracruz, Mexico; Larnaca, Cyprus; Obarrio, Panama; Doha, Qatar; Dubai, UAE; and a corporate location in Panama City, Fla.

Additional restaurants are coming soon to Mandan, N.D., Steubenville, Ohio and Memphis, Tenn.; and internationally in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Amsterdam and Pakistan, with more than an additional 250 locations in development.

Casual Dining, Chain Restaurants, Industry News, Bennigan's