1. Harrisburg, PA (RestaurantNews.com) Arooga’s, America’s Next Top Restaurant Franchise
and one of the fastest growing concepts in the industry, is taking its game to Florida and
Georgia with its sixth franchise agreement – and largest in the brand’s seven-year history
— this one to the tune of 50 restaurants, which will more than double Arooga’s national
footprint.
Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar, the Harrisburg, Penn.-based award-winning full-service
casual restaurant and bar, today announced it has entered into an Area Representative
agreement with The Sporting Group, LLC to develop 50 locations over the next eight years
throughout the state of Florida and five counties in the greater Atlanta area.
Arooga’s currently has ten corporate locations in Pennsylvania, and it opened its first
franchise location in Uncasville, Connecticut adjacent to the Mohegan Sun Resort and
Casino in March as part of a 15 location multi-unit agreement with the Mohegan Holding
company. Other franchise locations are currently under development in Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, Long Island, New Jersey, and Chicago markets. The new agreement gives
Arooga’s nearly 100 units, 10 corporate and 88 franchise locations either open, in
evelopment, or under contract.
“Arooga’s brand integrity, quality products, cutting-edge technology and unit economics,
fit nicely with The Sporting Group’s growth strategy for the state of Florida and Atlanta
markets,” said Pam Price, co-owner of The Sporting Group, LLC and Pro Managers, LLC. “We
are proud to be not only a franchisee of Arooga’s but to also play such an integral role in the
brand’s development in two key markets in the South. We are confident in the direction
that Arooga’s leadership is taking the brand and feel that this is just the beginning of a long
and profitable relationship.”
ABOUT AROOGA’S:
Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar Signs Sixth - and Largest - Franchise Agreement Which Will More Than Double Arooga’s National FootprintArooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar
is an innovative full-service casual restaurant and bar with a sports and entertainment focus that combines exceptional food and beverages, with unique concepts, and proprietary
operational strategies. Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar was founded in July 2008, and currently operates ten corporate locations in Central Pennsylvania and 88 franchise loca-
tions either open or in development. Arooga’s founders are taking the “unique sports and entertainment restaurant & bar” concept national and are offering franchising opportunities
to qualified multi-unit candidates. For more information, visit www.aroogas.com, or contact Keith Swade, Director of Franchise Development at keithswade@aroogas.com.
About The Sporting Group
The Sporting Group, LLC is a franchise development company that brings a full suite of services to the growth of key markets through the franchising model. Strategic partnerships
with premier businesses in their area of expertise, such as real estate and construction, site selection, restaurant management and vehicles such as insurance and risk management,
allow clients and franchisees affiliated with the Sporting Group the flexibility to be as involved as they desire in the daily operations and development of their concept. The Sporting
Group is both a franchisee of Arooga’s Grill House & Sports Bar, as well as the development arm for the brand in the states of Florida and Georgia. For business opportunities in these
areas, contact Pam Price at Pam@TheSportingGroup.com.
In 2003, Price founded Propel Franchising, LLC, a franchise-consulting firm
focused on business development and growth strategies for emerging and
high-profile brands. Her clients have included Dunkin Donuts, Church’s
Chicken, Krispy Kreme, Popeye’s Chicken, Seattle Coffee Company and Carl’s
Jr. among others. She also served as the director of development for Krystal
Restaurants, as well as AFC Enterprises and was a franchisee of Roly Poly
Rolled Sandwiches.
Paul Garnett, Pam’s partner and co-owner of The Sporting Group, LLC and Pro Managers, LLC, is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist and financial strategist who has grown
and developed numerous successful businesses. Throughout much of his career, Paul has worked with numerous professional athletes and high profile individuals. Arooga’s is
perhaps best known for being selected as the winner of 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.
“We are thrilled to be taking our game south with a proven partner that shares our dream for success and growth,” said Keith Swade, Director of Franchise Development for
Arooga’s. “Pam and Paul’s track record in the restaurant industry is impressive and we welcome them to the Arooga’s Nation.”
Arooga’s is inarguably one of the fastest growing restaurant concepts in the country, which suits Arooga’s president and co-founder Gary Huether, Jr. just fine: “To look back
over the past seven years and see our growth is truly remarkable. We have always strived to provide our guests with an innovative menu featuring fresh, cooked to order
items, an awesome place to watch their favorite sports on over 100 TVs, and a huge selection of hand crafted cocktails and draft beer, and it’s this guest experience that I feel
makes Arooga’s an attractive choice for the right franchise partners. We can’t wait to show the great states of Florida & Georgia what the Arooga’s brand is all about.”
AROOGA’S GRILLE HOUSE & SPORTS BAR SIGNS SIXTH - AND LARGEST - FRANCHISE
AGREEMENT WHICH WILL MORE THAN DOUBLE AROOGA’S NATIONAL FOOTPRINT
Arooga’s Inks Deal with The Sporting Group, LLC to Take the National
Award-Winning Brand to Florida and Georgia
Arooga’s president and co-founder
Gary Huether, Jr.