 | |
| Johnny Rockets | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Genre | Diner |
| Founded | June 6, 1986; 39 years ago (1986-06-06) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Founder | Ronn Teitelbaum |
| Headquarters | 1855 Boston Rd Suite 300 Wilbraham, Massachusetts, U.S. 01095[1] |
Number of locations | 385 (2016)[2] 147 (2021) |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Lee Sanders, President, CEO, Board of Directors |
| Products | Burgers,milkshakes,french fries,salads,sandwiches,hot dogs,soft drinks[3] |
| Revenue | US$ 300 million (2012)[4][5] |
| Parent | Independent (1986–2007) RedZone Capital (2007–2013) Sun Capital Partners (2013–2020) FAT Brands (2020–present) |
| Website | johnnyrockets |
The Johnny Rockets Group Inc., commonly known simply asJohnny Rockets, is an Americanrestaurantfranchise whose themed decor is based upon 1950sdiner-style restaurants. As of April 2024, the company operates 90 locations inArizona,California,Connecticut,Washington, D.C.,Florida,Georgia,Hawaii,Illinois,Louisiana,Maine,Maryland,Massachusetts,Minnesota,Missouri,Nevada,New Jersey,New York,Pennsylvania,Rhode Island,Tennessee,Texas,Utah,Virginia, andWashington. Décor includesCoca-Cola advertising, featuring nearly life-sized cardboard illustrations of women inWorld War II armed services uniforms (Women Airforce Service Pilots), individualjukebox stations, chrome accents, and red vinyl seats.
The menu, presentation, counter seating, and grilling area are based on an original restaurant from 1947 (still operating today),The Apple Pan in West Los Angeles. Hamburgers are grilled to order in full view of the customers and are served wrapped in paper in metal baskets.[6][7][8] One location in Hawaii is called "Rock 'n Fun" and also has an arcade.[9]
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Johnny Rockets was founded on June 6, 1986, by Ronn Teitelbaum ofLos Angeles,California, and "crafted as a 'nongimmicky' recreation of the 1940s-vintage malt shops of his childhood". The first restaurant was established as a 20-stool counter operation onMelrose Avenue in Los Angeles.[7] This location permanently closed on October 26, 2015.[10] Teitelbaum died frombrain cancer on September 11, 2000, at age 61.[7]
In February 2007, it was announced[11] that RedZone Capital, the private equity firm ofDaniel Snyder, was set to acquire the chain. Snyder announced plans to expand the chain both within the United States and worldwide, including the launch of smaller outlets known as Johnny Rockets Express. Snyder recruited industry veteran Lee Sanders from Buffalo Wild Wings, formerly with Dunkin Brands, General Mills, and Pepsico, to serve as president, CEO, and board member. Sanders ran the business for almost four years.
A sit-down restaurant owned by Six Flags Great Escape (RedZone was the largest shareholder at the time), Trappers Adirondack Grill, was converted to a Johnny Rockets in June 2008.[12] A few years later, Six Flags New England also got a Johnny Rockets near the Superman: Ride Of Steel.[13]
In April 2009, the newYankee Stadium opened with Johnny Rockets stands throughout the site. These stands serve traditional Johnny Rockets hamburgers, french fries, shakes, and malts, among other menu items.FedExField, home of theWashington Commanders (the stadium and team were owned by Snyder, whose company owned Johnny Rockets at the time), features Johnny Rockets concession areas.[14]
The world's largest Johnny Rockets franchise opened on June 6, 2012, at the corner of Abraham Lincoln Avenue and Bolivar Avenue inSanto Domingo, the capital city of theDominican Republic. The restaurant has more than 6,000 square feet (560 m2) and seating for more than 200 guests.[15]
In 2013, RedZone Capital Management sold the company toSun Capital Partners.[16]
On August 13, 2020, Johnny Rockets was acquired byFAT Brands (parent company ofFatburger) for $25 million.[17]
On January 26, 2026, parent company FAT Brands filed forChapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to shed billions of dollars in debt. The company listed assets and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion.[18]
Johnny Rockets operates restaurants inAustralia,Bahrain,Bolivia,Brazil,Canada,Chile,Costa Rica,Cyprus,Ecuador,Honduras,India,Indonesia,Iraq,Italy,Kuwait,Mexico,Nigeria,Norway,Oman,Pakistan,Panama,Paraguay,Peru, thePhilippines,Poland,Qatar,Saudi Arabia,South Korea,Spain,Tunisia, andUnited Arab Emirates.[19]
The first Johnny Rockets restaurant in Pakistan was opened in 2013 inKarachi.[20][21] and later in Lahore and Islamabad in 2014.[22] Johnny Rockets opened its first branch in Paraguay on December 16, 2016, in Shopping Mariscal,Asunción.[23][24] In 2016, it also opened branches in Peru and Bolivia.[citation needed]
The first European Johnny Rockets restaurant was opened inBrescia, Italy, on September 22, 2016, in Elnòs Shopping Center.
Johnny Rockets Canada had some Canadian locations, two inVictoria, British Columbia, two in the Toronto area, and two inVancouver, British Columbia, before all were closed in 2022.[25] One location remains inWindsor, Ontario.[26]
In Indonesia, Johnny Rockets has several locations located across Jabodetabek metro area, but after the 2020 pandemic, all were closed, leaving two branches left in the country. One is located in Terminal 3 ofSoekarno-Hatta International Airport and one in the city center ofJakarta inside Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel.
Several Royal Caribbean International cruise ships have Johnny Rockets restaurants operating on board.
