Chilis Bonnaroo Restaurant Group Chilis Bonnaroo Restaurant Group

 


Brinker International Reaches Agreement With Bonnaroo Restaurant Group for Up To 15 Chili's Locations in Georgia, South Carolina

DALLAS, Mar 2, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) today announced a franchise development agreement with Bonnaroo Restaurant Group that will bring up to 15 new Chili's Grill & Bar locations to South Carolina and Southern Georgia.

Based in Athens, Ga., Bonnaroo Restaurant Group is led by Greg Cyrier, a 20-year restaurant industry veteran whose background includes operations management experience with Brinker and La Madeleine French Bakery and Cafe.

The Bonnaroo group is among the first Chili's franchise partners to pursue development exclusively in non-metropolitan cities and towns, according to Wilson Craft, President of Chili's.

"With a well-established presence in major metro areas, we're expanding to communities beyond the outer-ring suburbs and seeing a tremendous opportunity for the Chili's brand on 'Main Street USA,'" said Craft. "Based on our success in non-metro areas so far, we think these markets are ripe for both franchise and company development, and we're excited that a proven operator like Greg sees their potential."

Cyrier is currently scouting potential locations and expects Bonnaroo's first Chili's to be open for business before the end of 2004.

"Brinker has an outstanding reputation as an operator and franchisor of quality brands, and I'm very happy to be working with them again -- it's a 'homecoming' for me," said Cyrier. "There are a great many people in the communities we're targeting who are eager for us to bring Chili's to them. We have no doubt Chili's will be highly successful in those markets."