Indigo Joe's Offense Dominating '08 US Economy's Defense

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Despite Ailing Casual Dining Segment, Sales for National Sports Pub & Restaurant Franchise Chain – Indigo Joe's – Remain Strong.

Laguna Hills, CA, July 07, 2008 --(PR.com)-- With talk of a looming recession and lagging sales for casual dining restaurants across the board, Neighborhood Sports Pub Concepts, Inc – franchisor of Indigo Joe's Sports Pub & Restaurants – appears to be bucking the downward trend. A virtual newcomer to the franchise stage, Indigo Joe's has 32 signed franchisees, with 22 establishments currently open in 18 states from West Coast to East Coast. NSPC, Inc has recently inked deals for development in four new states – New Mexico, Tennessee, Florida and Virginia – and plans to open an average of one new store every two months. Controlled quality growth aside, Troy Taylor – CEO for NSPC – attributes the franchise's success against the recent economic downturn to several factors. "We provide all of our franchisees with a top-notch training program from the start," explains Taylor. "We are also heavily focused right now on teaching and implementing systems to enable franchisees to control beverage, liquor, food and labor costs."

Most likely the biggest reason for Indigo Joe's success in weathering the economic storm is the fact that the concept was fostered out of a "love of the game". With a strong background in foodservice and franchising, Mr. Taylor - a true sports fan at heart - set out to establish a sports pub brand of his own in the early '90's. "I knew it was a concept that would work forever," insists Taylor. "There will always be true sports fans, and with March Madness, college football, NFL Sundays and the like – there's constantly that big game they'll want to catch. It's guaranteed business." Taylor, along with partners Chuck Darrow and Dana Nicolai, opened their first restaurant in California in 1994. Taylor then traveled the country, taking notes on different sports bar establishments and performing volumes of research on what diners really want. He hoped to offer a little something to please a variety of guests, while setting his new concept apart from the fray. Taylor fine-tuned the concept for close to a decade before developing the Indigo Joe's franchise. Over the course of his research, Taylor learned from others' successes and failures. "What they did well, we did better," recalls Taylor. "Where they failed, we improved upon. For instance, instead of serving finger food out of a basket, we serve our meals – fresh Certified Angus® burgers and steaks, center cut pork chops, baby back ribs and ahi tuna - on a plate. That's what customers really want!" The first Indigo Joe's opened its doors in California just five years ago, based on the principles that "We're Not Your Average Joe" and that it is possible to please everyone. It's that winning attitude that has helped the brand to grow.

Wishing to appeal to the family as a whole, Taylor spent a good bit of research learning what women and children wanted in their dining experience. The Indigo Joe's Brand offers a warm and cozy interior, immaculate restrooms, a sound-proof kids' game room, above and beyond customer service, their "signature" wall of HD, plasma and wide screen TVs, full bar complete with distinctive specialty drinks plus 20 beers on tap and an extensive menu with a variety of choices sure to please any appetite. Diners shouldn't expect the regular trappings of the common sports bar. Indigo Joe's touts itself as "What A Neighborhood Restaurant Should Be", and holds to that belief by trying to make its guests feel right at home with booths that more resemble a neighbor's comfy sofa than an institutional dining arrangement. Joe's also offers wireless voice boxes so sports fans can hear the play-by-play of the game they're there to watch. Many new Indigo Joe's establishments attempt to bring that same cozy atmosphere outdoors by offering fire pits on the patios. Patrons are sure to find the old sports bar favorites of buffalo wings and nachos on the menu, but guests might also be pleasantly surprised to find signature salads, Certified Angus® burgers and steaks, baby back ribs and specialty chicken & fish dishes. Guests won't want to miss something sweet from Indigo Joe's dessert menu – the perfect finish to any meal.

Taylor built the Indigo Joe's concept to be three things in one: 1) a sports pub designed with superior sound, comfort and viewing in mind so there's not a bad seat in the house 2) a beautiful tavern-like establishment with a host of friendly regulars and staff, and 3) a busy, family-friendly restaurant that offers its guests honest-to-goodness great food and fun. This trio of factors makes for one winning combination.

Equally important, Indigo Joe's is also based on the "owner-operator" concept. Taylor feels it's the essential component in making patrons feel like "guests" of the restaurant. All franchisees are hand-picked and thoroughly reviewed by Taylor, and then trained for six weeks at the corporate training establishment in Colorado Springs, CO. Each franchisee is encouraged to learn the names of their regulars, and to interact regularly with visitors of their restaurant.

The forecast for Neighborhood Sports Pub Concepts and the Indigo Joe's Brand in the coming years is for continued controlled growth nationwide, granting 10 to 15 new franchises per year - with a focus on more stores than franchisees. For franchise inquiries and information, call (888) 303-JOES (5637).

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