Pollo Campero Debuts New Location in Trenton, New Jersey

Dec. 9, 2011 - PRLog -- (Trenton, N.J.) Dec. 9, 2011 – Local businessman Tejas “TJ” Ajmeri has a gift for Trenton. This December he will open the city’s first Pollo Campero restaurant.

Founded as a small family restaurant in Guatemala in 1971, the restaurant quickly grew to become the world’s largest Latin chicken restaurant chain embraced by more than 85 million people worldwide every year.

Pollo Campero is famous for its marinated grilled and fried chicken hand prepared exactly the same way it is every day in Latin America using a signature blend of Latin spices. Pollo Campero is also known for its Campero beans, flavorful rice, crispy yucca fries, and sweet plantains. Pollo Campero’s hard-to-find Latin specialty drinks including the horchata, tamarindo, and guava are also fan favorites.  

The latest addition to the Pollo Campero family will open on Dec. 13 at 508 Hamilton Ave. in Trenton.

“I am excited to be a Pollo Campero franchisee. We have a huge Central American population in this area, and I know people are already excited about getting a Pollo Campero,” says Ajmeri. “I’m a foodie. I especially love chicken, and this is by far the best. We can’t wait to bring this outstanding restaurant to the community.”

A native of India, Ajmeri moved to Queens, N.Y. when he was nine years old. After high school, he served in the Army for four years, which included a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia in 1997. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree from the City University of New York and graduate degree in finance from Penn State.

After working in engineering and real estate for several years, he found himself in the hotel business in Maryland, Rochester, Buffalo, and Philadelphia. “Every time we’d have an employee luncheon in Maryland, everyone always, always wanted Pollo Campero,” says Ajmeri. He knew he had to check it out for himself.

When he experienced the fun and friendly atmosphere, Ajmeri knew that the Trenton area would be a perfect fit for a new Pollo Campero restaurant. He teamed up with his wife’s cousins, partners Dipak Patel and Vatsal Patel, and became a Pollo Campero franchisee.

“I want to embrace Trenton for what it is. My family and I are proud to live here, and we want to make it even better. Aligned with Pollo Campero’s family values, we’re already making plans to help fight hunger in the area by talking with the Trenton Soup Kitchen and local churches, and we’re also trying to start an entrepreneur’s organization with the goal of giving back.”  

The new Pollo Campero will bring between 50 and 60 new jobs to the area.

“Trenton has a huge Central American population, and we know they’re going to love coming into our comfortable, friendly restaurant to enjoy a taste of home,” says Ajmeri. “I love the Latin culture, their language and their people. I speak Spanish, and we’re also working on developing free English classes to anyone who wants to come learn.”

Plans for further expansion are being considered, says Ajmeri; he’s going to start by listening to the Trenton market and seeing what’s next. “Clearly there is a desire for our bold and fresh flavors and I am excited to see where consumers want us to expand next,” Ajmeri says.


About Pollo Campero
The world’s largest Latin chicken restaurant chain, Pollo Campero offers its customers a wide array of fresh, Latin-inspired dishes made with Pollo Campero’s proprietary blend of Latin herbs and spices. Pollo Campero’s signature fried and grilled chicken is loved by millions of customers around the world who have known the brand for decades.

Founded in Guatemala in 1971, the family-owned company now operates more than 300 restaurants in 12 countries around the globe. This includes more than 50 locations presently open in major cities throughout the United States with plans for further expansion.  For more information, visit www.campero.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/camperousa