Johnny Rockets
Encyclopedia
Johnny Rockets is an American
restaurant franchise
whose concept is to create a classic American restaurant atmosphere. The theme is the diner
-style restaurant that had become a common sight by the 1950s
. Decor includes Coca-Cola
advertising featuring nearly life-size cardboard illustrations of women in World War II
armed services uniforms, individual jukebox
stations, chrome accents and red vinyl seats. The staff at some locations are known to sing and dance every half-hour. Making a smiley face with ketchup on the paper plate when served french fries
is a Johnny Rockets trademark.
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, California: A small two-sided menu with few items, hamburgers served wrapped in paper and on cardboard plates, hamburgers grilled-to-order in full view of the counter-seated customers.
, 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.
In 1999, Royal Caribbean International
featured a Johnny Rockets location onboard its Voyager of the Seas
, making it the first ever "mobile" Johnny Rockets restaurant. From that point forward the cruise line has offered a Johnny Rockets location onboard all of their new cruise ships.
The world's largest Johnny Rockets franchise opened on April 25, 2006, inside the Knott's Berry Farm
amusement park in Buena Park, California
. The restaurant has more than 5900 square feet (548.1 m²), with indoor seating for over 260 guests with an additional outdoor patio seating area. It is located in The Boardwalk section of the amusement park.
In February 2007, it was announced that Red Zone 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.
A sit-down type restaurant which is owned by Six Flags (in which Red Zone is the largest shareholder), Trappers Adirondack Grill, was converted into a Johnny Rockets in June 2008.
In April 2009, the new Yankee Stadium
opened with many Johnny Rockets stands throughout the stadium. These stands serve traditional Johnny Rockets hamburgers, french fries, shakes, and malts among other menu items. FedEx Field, home of Washington Redskins
(the stadium and team are both owned by Snyder, whose company owns Johnny Rockets), also features Johnny Rockets concession areas.
Johnny Rockets' CEO, John Fuller, was featured on Undercover Boss
on CBS
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
restaurant franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
whose concept is to create a classic American restaurant atmosphere. The theme is the diner
Diner
A diner, also spelled dinor in western Pennsylvania is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of North America, especially in the Midwest, in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, although examples can be found throughout...
-style restaurant that had become a common sight by the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
. Decor includes Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
advertising featuring nearly life-size cardboard illustrations of women in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
armed services uniforms, individual jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
stations, chrome accents and red vinyl seats. The staff at some locations are known to sing and dance every half-hour. Making a smiley face with ketchup on the paper plate when served french fries
French fries
French fries , chips, fries, or French-fried potatoes are strips of deep-fried potato. North Americans tend to refer to any pieces of deep-fried potatoes as fries or French fries, while in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of deep-fried potatoes are...
is a Johnny Rockets trademark.
The menu, presentation, counter seating and grilling area are based on an original restaurant from 1947 (still operating today), The Apple Pan
The Apple Pan
The Apple Pan is a restaurant located at 10801 West Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles. It opened in 1947 and is locally famous for its hamburgers and apple pies served with vanilla ice cream. It consists of a single, U-shaped counter surrounding the central food preparation area. Closed on...
, in West Los Angeles, California: A small two-sided menu with few items, hamburgers served wrapped in paper and on cardboard plates, hamburgers grilled-to-order in full view of the counter-seated customers.
History
Johnny Rockets was founded on June 6, 1986, by Ronn Teitelbaum of Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern 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
Melrose Avenue
Melrose Avenue is an internationally renowned shopping, dining and entertainment destination in Los Angeles that starts from Santa Monica Boulevard at the border between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood and ends at Lucille Avenue in Silver Lake...
in Los Angeles.
In 1999, Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a Norwegian and American cruise line brand based in Miami, Florida and owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. With 42 ships in service under 5 different brands and one more under construction, it controls a 25.6% share of the world cruise market...
featured a Johnny Rockets location onboard its Voyager of the Seas
Voyager of the Seas
MS Voyager of the Seas, is a Voyager-class cruise ship, completed in 1999, for Royal Caribbean International. She is the namesake of Voyager-class ships....
, making it the first ever "mobile" Johnny Rockets restaurant. From that point forward the cruise line has offered a Johnny Rockets location onboard all of their new cruise ships.
The world's largest Johnny Rockets franchise opened on April 25, 2006, inside the Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
amusement park in Buena Park, California
Buena Park, California
Buena Park is a city in northwestern Orange County, California. As of Census 2010 the population was 80,530. The city is adjacent to the city of Anaheim and is 12 miles northwest of downtown Santa Ana. The Current OMB metropolitan designation for Buena Park and the Orange County Area is "Santa...
. The restaurant has more than 5900 square feet (548.1 m²), with indoor seating for over 260 guests with an additional outdoor patio seating area. It is located in The Boardwalk section of the amusement park.
In February 2007, it was announced that Red Zone Capital, the private equity firm of Daniel Snyder
Daniel Snyder
Daniel M. Snyder is the current owner of the Washington Redskins American football team, owner of the Dick Clark Productions television production company, and primary investor in Red Zebra Broadcasting, which is home to the Redskins Radio Network. Snyder has a net worth of $1.05 billion...
, 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.
A sit-down type restaurant which is owned by Six Flags (in which Red Zone is the largest shareholder), Trappers Adirondack Grill, was converted into a Johnny Rockets in June 2008.
In April 2009, the new Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
opened with many Johnny Rockets stands throughout the stadium. These stands serve traditional Johnny Rockets hamburgers, french fries, shakes, and malts among other menu items. FedEx Field, home of Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
(the stadium and team are both owned by Snyder, whose company owns Johnny Rockets), also features Johnny Rockets concession areas.
Johnny Rockets' CEO, John Fuller, was featured on Undercover Boss
Undercover Boss
Undercover Boss is a television franchise series that has been released in multiple countries, originating in 2009 on the British Channel 4...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
.