Johnny Rockets

{{Infobox company

| name = The Johnny Rockets Group Inc.

| logo = Johnny Rockets logo.svg

| type = Subsidiary

| trade_name = Johnny Rockets

| logo_size = 160px

| former_name =

| genre = Diner

| founder = Ronn Teitelbaum

| traded_as =

| foundation = {{start date and age|1986|06|06}}
Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| industry = Restaurant

| location = 1855 Boston Rd Suite 300
Wilbraham, Massachusetts, U.S. 01095{{cite web |url=https://www.johnnyrockets.com/the-story/our-company/ |title=Our Company |access-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704052530/https://www.johnnyrockets.com/the-story/our-company/ |url-status=dead }}

| locations = 385 (2016){{Cite press release|date=January 9, 2017|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnny-rockets-celebrates-30-countries-in-30-years-300387148.html|title = Johnny Rockets Celebrates 30 Countries in 30 Years}}
{{decrease}} 147 (2021)

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = Lee Sanders, President, CEO, Board of Directors

| num_employees =

| parent = Independent (1986–2007)
RedZone Capital (2007–2013)
Sun Capital Partners (2013–2020)
FAT Brands (2020–present)

| products = Burgers, milkshakes, french fries, salads, sandwiches, hot dogs, soft drinks{{Cite web|url=https://www.johnnyrockets.com/menu|title = Johnny Rockets}}

| revenue = US$ 300 million (2012){{Cite web|last=Klein|first=Danny|date=August 13, 2020|url=https://www.fsrmagazine.com/chain-restaurants/johnny-rockets-sold-25-million-fatburger-owner|title = Johnny Rockets Sold for $25 Million to Fatburger Owner|website=FSR Magazine}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2011/06/02/burger-wars-with-johnny-rockets-ceo.html|title = Burger Wars with Johnny Rockets CEO|website = CNBC|last = LaRocco|first = Lori Ann|date = June 2, 2011}}

| net_income =

| homepage = {{URL|johnnyrockets.com}}

| footnotes =

}}

The Johnny Rockets Group Inc., commonly known simply as Johnny Rockets, is an American restaurant franchise whose themed decor is based upon 1950s diner-style restaurants. As of April 2024, the company operates 90 locations in Arizona, 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, and Washington. Décor includes Coca-Cola advertising, featuring nearly life-size cardboard illustrations of women in World War II armed services uniforms (Women Airforce Service Pilots), individual jukebox 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.latimemachines.com/new_page_7.htm |title=latimemachines.com}}{{cite web|last=Spector |first=Amy |title=Ronn Teitelbaum, Johnny Rockets founder, dies at 61 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_39_34/ai_66104054/ |work=Nation's Restaurant News |author2=Martin, Richard |date=September 25, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615224014/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_39_34/ai_66104054/ |archive-date=June 15, 2010 }}{{cite web| url = http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/372510| title = "The Apple Pan hickory burger revisited (with clear eyes)"| access-date = April 20, 2010| archive-date = January 29, 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100129004608/http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/372510| url-status = dead}}. Chowhound.com. February 18, 2007. One location in Hawaii is called "Rock 'n Fun" and also has an arcade.{{cite web |url=https://rocknfunhi.com/ |title=Rock 'n Fun}}

History

Johnny Rockets was founded on June 6, 1986, by Ronn Teitelbaum of Los 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 on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. This location permanently closed on October 26, 2015.{{cite web |date=October 27, 2015|url=http://www.melroseaction.org/2015/10/27/world-famous-melrose-avenue-landmark-closes-its-doors/|title=World Famous Melrose Avenue Landmark Closes It's [sic] Doors|publisher=Melrose Action|access-date=April 4, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206020232/http://www.melroseaction.org/2015/10/27/world-famous-melrose-avenue-landmark-closes-its-doors/|archive-date=February 6, 2017}} Teitelbaum died from brain cancer on September 11, 2000, at age 61.

File:SixFlags-JohnnyRockets-4095.jpg]]

In February 2007, it was announced{{cite news|last=Ross |first=Andrew |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/business/09deal.html?th&emc=th |title=Footballs, Funhouses and Fries|work=The New York Times|date=February 9, 2007 |access-date=November 25, 2011}} that RedZone Capital, the private equity firm of Daniel 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 and 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.{{cite web|date=March 4, 2008|title=Trapper's Adirondack Grille to be converted to new Johnny Rockets restaurant|url=http://adirondack-chamber.blogspot.com/2008/03/trappers-adirondack-grille-to-be.html|publisher=Adirondack Chamber of Commerce |access-date=June 17, 2012}} A few years later Six Flags New England would also get a Johnny Rocket's near the Superman: Ride Of Steel.{{cite web | url=https://www.sixflags.com/newengland/things-to-do/restaurants | title=Springfield Area Restaurants & Dining | Six Flags New England }}

In April 2009, the new Yankee 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 the Washington Commanders (the stadium and team were owned by Snyder, whose company owned Johnny Rockets at the time), features Johnny Rockets concession areas.{{cite web|title=RedZone Capital to Acquire Johnny Rockets|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail/4442231-1.html|work=Display and Design Ideas |date=February 13, 2007}}

The world's largest Johnny Rockets franchise opened on June 6, 2012, at the corner of Abraham Lincoln Avenue and Bolivar Avenue in Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic. The restaurant has more than {{convert|6000|sqft|m2}} and seating for more than 200 guests.{{cite web|date=June 13, 2012|url=http://www.restaurantnews.com/worlds-largest-johnny-rockets-restaurant-opens/|title=World's Largest Johnny Rockets Restaurant Opens|work=RestaurantNews.com}}

In 2013, RedZone Capital Management sold the company to Sun Capital Partners.{{cite news|last=Luna|first=Nancy|title=O.C.-based burger chain Johnny Rockets sold |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/johnny-513231-rockets-chain.html|access-date=June 18, 2013|newspaper=Orange County Register|date=June 18, 2013}}

File:Johnny Rockets in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.jpg, Bolivia, an international location]]

On August 13, 2020, Johnny Rockets was acquired by FAT Brands (parent company of Fatburger) for $25 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/13/investing/fat-brands-johnny-rockets-merger/index.html|title=Burger merger: Fatburger owner is buying Johnny Rockets for $25 million|date=August 13, 2020|access-date=August 13, 2020}}

=International=

Johnny Rockets operates restaurants in Australia, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica,Cyprus, Ecuador, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.{{Cite web|url=https://www.johnnyrockets.com/locations/|title=Our Locations|website=Johnny Rockets|language=en-US|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221113759/https://www.johnnyrockets.com/locations/|url-status=dead}}

The first Johnny Rockets restaurant in Pakistan was opened in 2013 in Karachi.{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/562228/johnny-rockets-set-to-rock-the-coast-of-karachi/|title=Johnny Rockets set to rock the coast of Karachi|work=The Express Tribune|date=June 12, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.adgeekdaily.com/3028-johnny-rockets-becomes-latest-international-brand-open-doors-karachi|title=Johnny Rockets Becomes Latest International Brand To Open Doors In Karachi|date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225074233/http://www.adgeekdaily.com/3028-johnny-rockets-becomes-latest-international-brand-open-doors-karachi|archive-date=December 25, 2013|work=AdGeekDaily}} and later in Lahore and Islamabad in 2014.{{cite web|date=December 11, 2013|url=http://www.nation.com.pk/business/11-Dec-2013/johnny-rockets-reaches-pakistan|title=Johnny Rockets reaches Pakistan}} Johnny Rockets opened its first branch in Paraguay on December 16, 2016, in Shopping Mariscal, Asuncion.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessreviewamericalatina.com/liderazgo/2005/Franquicia-hamburguesera-Johnny-Rockets-llega-a-Paraguay/|title=Franquicia hamburguesera Johnny Rockets llega a Paraguay - Business Review América Latina|date=October 19, 2016|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220165915/http://www.businessreviewamericalatina.com/liderazgo/2005/Franquicia-hamburguesera-Johnny-Rockets-llega-a-Paraguay/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/johnny-rockets-expands-italy-paraguay-and-canada/|title=Johnny Rockets Expands Into Italy, Paraguay, and Canada - QSR Magazine|date=October 27, 2016}} In 2016, they also opened branches in Peru and Bolivia.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

The first European Johnny Rockets restaurant was opened in Brescia, Italy, on September 22, 2016, in Elnòs Shopping Center.

Johnny Rockets Canada had five Canadian locations, two located in Victoria, British Columbia and two locations in Vancouver, British Columbia before all were closed in 2022.{{cite web |title=Closes Canadian Stores |url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/food-and-drink/american-burger-chain-leaves-canada-vancouver-locations-closed-5554888? |access-date=July 7, 2022 |website=Vancouver is Awesome|date=July 6, 2022 }} There is still one location remaining in Windsor, Ontario.{{cite web|url=https://www.johnnyrockets.ca/locations|title=Locations|website=Johnny Rockets Canada|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920234825/https://www.johnnyrockets.ca/locations|url-status=dead}}

In Indonesia, Johnny Rockets has several locations located across Jabodetabek metro area but after the 2020 pandemic, all were closed. Leaving 2 branches left in the country. One is located in Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and one in the city center of Jakarta inside Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel.

Several Royal Caribbean International cruise ships have Johnny Rockets restaurants operating on board.

In popular culture

It was mentioned in the song "Westside Story" by 1990s pop boyband LFO in Rich Cronin's rap verse off their debut self-titled album in 1999.

In 2009, the company and CEO John Fuller was featured in the hit TV show Undercover Boss on CBS in the US and on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

The sixth episode of the anime series Blood Blockade Battlefront features a parody of the restaurant called "Jack & Rockets", which the characters Leonardo Watch and Nej frequently order from.

The action/comedy series Wrestlicious featured comedy sketches with "50s Girl Shauna Na" which were filmed at Johnny Rockets in downtown Tampa Florida.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

An American black comedy crime drama thriller series Barry alluded to Johnny Rockets in LA during episode 3 of season 3.

The rock and roll and metal inspired and anime styled fighting video game series Guilty Gear features a parody of the restaurant by the name of Danny Missiles, which has survived into the near end of the 22nd Century and is frequented by the cast.

In the 2012 sixth season (episode 5) of The Big Bang Theory Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz talks to her husband Howard Wolowitz about him talking too much about being an astronaut and him stating they just had dinner at Johnny Rockets.

American chef and writer Anthony Bourdain said that the saddest meal he ever ate was at Johnny Rockets.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TaB9AitiNM | title=The Saddest Meal Anthony Bourdain Ever Ate | CONAN on TBS | website=YouTube | date=November 16, 2016 }}