Entrepreneur to Open 4th A&W Restaurant in The Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota Area

By: A&W Restaurants | 30 Shares 702 Reads

August 11, 2009 // Franchising.com // INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN.--- Patrick Nickleson, a native of Marshall, MN and former corporate chef for a grocery store chain, will open his fourth A&W Restaurant, the original drive-in, at 9061 Buchanan Trail, Inner Grove Heights, MN on August 10, 2009. A&W Restaurants, which is currently celebrating its 90th anniversary, will feature its new 3-D Drive- In Concept at the new site, which offers service for Drive-In, Dine-In and Drive-Thru customers.

According to Nickleson, who is partnering with his wife Patti, a Registered Nurse, the new A&W will offer seating for 38-persons, 19-Drive- In stalls and will feature the A&W Restaurants All-American menu of fresh made Draft Root Beer, Root Beer Floats, Coney Hot Dogs, and Burgers made from 100 percent All American Beef.

"A&W will rock the socks off Inner Grove consumers," Nickleson predicted. "We like to grow our A&W business by offering the menu that has withstood the test of time, and special events aimed at families which help build memories. There are thousands of Minnesotans who can recall their first A&W experience."

Nickleson said the new A&W will employ 60-70 persons and will be a seven day a week operation.

Nickleson, who changed careers to become an A&W franchisee/entrepreneur, also operates A&W Restaurants in Little Canada, MN, Riverdale Mall, Coon Rapids, MN, and Pine Island, MN.

A&W was founded as a Root Beer stand by Roy Allen who used a formula purchased from an Arizona pharmacist, which consisted of a unique blend of juices from 16 herbs, spices, barks and berries. Allen sold the cold, creamy root beer for a nickel a mug on a downtown corner. The venue proved so popular that the company expanded to four sites and the concession evolved into a "drive-in." Allen approached employee Frank Wright and the two formed a partnership which became A&W.

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 multibrand restaurants. A&W Restaurants, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), Louisville, Ky.

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