Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Breaks New Ground With Opening of Company's First Einstein Bros. Bagels Franchise Location

By: Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc | 1 Shares 103 Reads

Nine Additional Restaurant Locations Planned for Jacksonville Area

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 17, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Local entrepreneur Mohammed Chaudhry, owner of MC Squared Investments, LLC, made history today with the opening of the Einstein Bros.(R) Bagels franchised location at 1661 Riverside Avenue. The new restaurant is the first franchise location under the Einstein Bros.' franchising program for Einstein Bros.' parent company, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BAGL).

Today's grand opening also marks the first of 10 locations that MC Squared Investments, LLC, plans to open throughout the Jacksonville area and is part of Chaudhry's 21-store agreement to open Einstein Bros. franchise locations throughout northern Florida. The franchised restaurant officially opened for business in March.

"We are thrilled to offer a restaurant that we believe will impress new and longtime Einstein Bros.' fans with distinctive menu options and a vibrant dining environment," said Chaudhry. "I want to offer the best in quick casual bakery fare to Jacksonville residents through a brand that has built a great name and strong popularity in cities throughout the country and in other parts of Florida."

To commemorate the Jacksonville grand opening, guests will receive a free cup of Darn Good Coffee(R) and will be able to try other grand opening menu specials on April 18th and 19th. Available for take-out, dine-in and catering, Einstein Bros.' innovative menu features fresh breakfast and lunch sandwiches, salads and premium coffees served all day. Breakfast and lunch sandwiches are available on a variety of freshly baked breads, rolls or wraps, and, of course, a huge selection of tasty, freshly baked bagels.

"When guests sit down to eat Einstein Bros.' food, we want them to taste our innovation. We want them to experience the 'wow factor' with each bite," said Paul Carolan, senior vice president of franchising and licensing. "Our new location in Jacksonville fits in perfectly with our goal to be at the leading edge of what casual bakery guests want."

In addition to MC Squared Investments, LLC's 21-unit deal, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group has inked two multi-unit franchise agreements scheduled to open a total of eight locations in the Augusta, Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina and Northwest Arkansas markets beginning in late-2008, into 2009 and beyond.

"We are pleased with the growth of our franchising program for the brand," said Paul Murphy, CEO of Einstein Noah Restaurant Group. "Our initial offering of the brand targeted the southeast United States beginning last year. Due to the response and interest, we decided to open select markets throughout the rest of the country."

Known best for its famous breakfast sandwiches and bagels, five different flavors of Darn Good Coffee(R), flavorful cream cheese shmears and trendy lunchtime sandwiches, Einstein Bros. has secured its distinctive place among competitors in the rapidly expanding fast casual restaurant category with innovative menu offerings like the new Bros. Blenders(R) Frozen Drinks to keep guests visiting during morning and afternoon hours. Moreover, the brand's trendy restaurant decor and contemporary atmosphere is designed to attract a loyal, more upscale guest base that can feel at home while dining.

About Einstein Noah Restaurant Group

Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. is a leading company in the quick casual restaurant industry that operates locations primarily under the Einstein Bros. and Noah's New York Bagels brands and primarily franchises locations under the Manhattan Bagel brand. The company's retail system consists of approximately 600 restaurants in 36 states and the District of Columbia. It also operates a dough production facility. The company's stock is traded under the symbol BAGL. Visit http://www.einsteinnoah.com for additional information.

SOURCE Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc.

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