Former Sonic Owner/Operator Joins Revival Of A&W Restaurants

By: A&W Restaurants | 13 Shares 296 Reads

Opens State-Of-Art Drive-In Menasha, Wi, Feb. 18th; More Planned

February 20, 2009 // Franchising.com // Menasha, WI. ---Matt Williams, an Oklahoma native, who spent a decade with Sonic Drive-In Restaurants opened a state of the art "3-D" A&W Restaurants Drive-In, yesterday, at 1462 Appleton Road, here. The new A&W is part of a multi-unit expansion planned for Wisconsin by Williams, who opened a unit in Little Chute, WI also near Green Bay last Nov., and plans as many as five more in 2009.

The new Menasha A&W will be open seven days a week and will offer customers the A&W "3-D" experience: Drive In, Drive Through and Dine In (seating for 44) capabilities. The opening is part of a much broader expansion plan by A&W Restaurants during the brand's 90th anniversary.

"As America's Original Drive-In, we have developed legions of customers around the country who can recall their first experience at an A&W Restaurant," explained Doug Heinrich, A&W director development strategy. "We have targeted Wisconsin as a key area for our 2009 growth plans to open 15 drive- ins along with Minnesota, Michigan and Oregon."

Williams said the 2100-square feet Menasha A&W will employ 40-60 persons and will offer customers the popular A&W All American Menu of Papa Burgers, Fries, Coney Dogs, and of course, their signature frosty mugs of freshly made A&W Root Beer and Root Beer Floats.

Joe Schultz of Menasha will manage the new restaurant for Williams and his franchise company All American Drive Ins, LLC.

"I believe the sky is the limit for growth for A&W Restaurants," explained Williams, a former Sonic trainer and part owner of corporate stores, "it is part of the fabric of the American dining scene."

About A&W®

The A&W® brand was founded in 1919, and A&W® All American Food® is famous for serving a signature frosty mug root beer float and 100% US beef hamburgers and coney dogs. There are more than 675 A&W® All American Food® outlets in 15 countries and territories around the world, and more than 600 additional points of distribution at Yum! Brands multi-brand restaurants. A&W Restaurants, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), Louisville, Ky.

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