GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., – Areios, LLC, a partnership of franchise and restaurant operators Ron Chaulk and Jim Cagle, is opening the first franchise location of Smashburger, a new innovative better burger restaurant concept, on Colorado’s Western Slope. The new Smashburger will open on Monday, June 15, at First and Grand in Grand Junction. Areios is planning to open four additional Smashburgers in the Grand Valley within the next 15 months.
Areios signed on with Smashburger as a Founders Club franchisee in 2008. Founders Club members represent the first large franchise groups to sign on with the Smashburger team and will play a key roll in the development and expansion of Smashburger. Areios is a restaurant industry veteran with experience owning and operating some of the country’s most successful and recognized concepts. It has agreed to open 30 Smashburgers in Western Colorado, Kansas City and Eastern South Dakota over the next several years. The First and Grand location in Grand Junction is the first that Areios will open.
To celebrate the opening of Smashburger’
“We’ve been successful at running quick-service and fast-casual franchise restaurants in Colorado and other Western regions, but we were looking for a new opportunity,”
Named for the cooking method used to create the perfect burger, Smashburgers are either a one-third or half-pound ball of beef smashed on a flat grill to sear in the juices. The menu also includes grilled Smashchicken sandwiches, Smashdogs, Smashfries, Veggie Frites, haystack onions, entrée salads and kids’ selections. Haagen Daz shakes, wine or frosty mugs of beer round out the perfect burger meal.
“Our burgers start with always-fresh-
Smashburger was launched and funded with $15 million by Denver-based private equity and concept development firm Consumer Capital Partners (CCP) in mid-2007. The company is rapidly expanding through corporate, joint venture and franchise locations across the country. Smashburger has close to 16 locations currently open in Colorado, Kansas, Texas and Minnesota, with nearly a half dozen more expected to open this summer. By the end of 2009, Smashburger will have approximately 40 corporate, joint venture and franchise locations opened.
About Smashburger
Headquartered in Denver, Colo., Smashburger is a fast-casual restaurant designed to be “every city’s favorite burger place.” Developed and owned by private equity and concept development firm Consumer Capital Partners (CCP), Smashburger has sold franchise agreements totaling more than 200-plus locations over the next five years. The franchise deals are part of Smashburger’
About Consumers Capital Partners
Denver based Consumer Capital Partners(CCP)
