Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill: Whiskey Creek Franchise Announcement

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PRESS RELEASE

Date:           January 18, 2008
Contacts:    Blazin’ Beier Ranch, Inc: Lisa Tonjum, Partner (507-254-1573)
Whiskey Creek Franchise Systems, LLC: Jim Gardner, President (308-234-2757)
Subject:      Whiskey Creek Franchise Announcement

ROCHESTER, MN — Whiskey Creek Franchise Systems based in Kearney, Nebraska is proud to announce that the 9th Whiskey Creek® Wood Fire Grill franchise has been sold to Blazin’ Beier Ranch, Inc. and is set to open July 28th, 2008 in Rochester, Minnesota. Whiskey Creek® is the largest Nebraska-based steak restaurant chain with 15 restaurants open, and four more under construction, in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Florida, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Iowa. Rochester will be the 19th restaurant in the chain.

Whiskey Creek® Wood Fire Grill features grilled menu items cooked over a hardwood fire of oak and ash. The restaurant’s famous wood-fire grill combined with Whiskey Creek’s® own proprietary seasonings give meals a unique flavor. The menu offers something for everyone including steak, BBQ, seafood, pasta, sandwiches, burgers and salads. Another feature of the restaurant is its 50 plus flavors of margaritas.

Whiskey Creek® Wood Fire Grill serves the finest beef this country has to offer. It was the first restauarant chain to feature source-verified beef, beef that has been tracked since birth. It was also the first chain in the nation to introduce the Flat Iron steak in 2002. This signature steak cuts like a filet and tastes like a strip.

Whiskey Creek’s® growth strategy includes smaller markets, not large metropolitan areas. The Rochester Whiskey Creek® will be located at 1705 Broadway Avenue South, at the site of “The Ranch” Restaurant. The restaurant will be undergoing major renovations and will feature a unique and distinctive western décor.

The restaurant is owned by Jim Beier who has operated The Ranch site since 1976. When asked why he chose to open a Whiskey Creek® franchise, Mr. Beier replied: “When I first saw Whiskey Creek’s menu, I said ‘They’ve got what I want!’ This concept is something that I couldn’t develop through my own means, but was exactly what I wanted to offer my guests.”

The restaurant will be managed by partners in ownership Lisa Tonjum and Jessica Prescher. Lisa has B.S. and M.A. degrees in Business. She had 7 years experience in management with Baker’s Square before she began managing The Ranch in 1993. Jessica began working for the Ranch in 1993, starting in a waitress position and working up to management. The girls took an ownership stake in the restaurant in 2004.

“I have known the Beier family for nearly 30 years and I look forward to having them join our Whiskey Creek family,” said Jim Gardner, president and owner of Whiskey Creek Franchise Systems.

Prior to opening, Whiskey Creek® will hold a VIP celebration for local members of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. The Restaurant will also host a special event called a “branding party,” where it invites local cattlemen to burn their brands into the restaurant’s bar.

download this Press Release as a .pdf document.

	...more Whiskey Creek headlines
	(February 15, 2008) DEERFIELD BEACH, FL — "Focus on America" to feature Whiskey Creek® Wood Fire Grill Platinum Productions TV is pleased to announce that Whiskey Creek® Wood Fire Grill will be featured on its innovative, educational television series, Focus on America. The organization will be showcased in a segment on “Be Your Own Boss” as part of the “Americas Best Franchise Opportunities” series
	(January 18, 2008) ROCHESTER, MN — Whiskey Creek Franchise Announcement Whiskey Creek Franchise Systems based in Kearney, Nebraska is proud to announce that the 9th Whiskey Creek® Wood Fire Grill franchise has been sold to Blazin’ Beier Ranch, Inc. and is set to open July 28th, 2008 in Rochester, Minnesota. Whiskey Creek® is the largest Nebraska-based steak restaurant chain with 15 restaurants open, and four more under construction, in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Florida, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Iowa. Rochester will be the 19th restaurant in the chain.
	(October 16, 2007) ALEXANDRIA, MN — Big Things Cooking at Country Kitchen: A familiar restaurant in Alexandria has closed its doors. But don’t despair, it will reopen in a few months with a new look – and a new name.
	(October 14, 2007) MASON CITY, IA — Country Kitchen to make way for Whiskey Creek MASON CITY — Jay Kvigne’s goal is to create what he calls “a whole new landmark” in the restaurant business in Mason City.
	(October 1, 2007) MASON CITY, IA — Whiskey Creek Franchise Announcement Whiskey Creek Franchise Systems based in Kearney, Nebraska is proud to announce that the 8th Whiskey Creek® Wood Fire Grill franchise has been sold to Kvigne Enterprises, Inc and is set to open April 2008, in Mason City, Iowa.
	(August 9, 2007) KEARNEY, NE — Whiskey Creek Franchise Announcement Whiskey Creek Franchise Systems based in Kearney, NE is proud to announce that the fifth Whiskey Creek® Wood Fire Grill franchise has been sold to KC Hospitality, Inc and is set to open November 2007, in Alexandria, Minnesota, at the site of the Country Kitchen Family Restaurant..
	(July 19, 2007) PORT CHARLOTTE, FL — Eating with the Parrot, Chef Marc I enjoyed eating at Whiskey Creek Steak House on Tuesday in Port Charlotte Florida (for those of you from Texas we are on the other coast of the Gulf). This is an American family restaurant that serves a Great Steak.
	(April 9, 2007) KEARNEY, NE — Whiskey Creek Franchise Announcement Whiskey Creek Franchise Systems based in Kearney, Nebraska is proud to announce the opening of its third franchise store, set to open May 21, 2007 in Joplin, Missouri.
	(Mar 1, 2007) THE VILLAGES — Whiskey Creek Makes Mark on Villages Sheriff Bill Farmer knew he'd witnessed something special Thursday evening as he watched the hot branding iron burn the charred image of his family's ranch mark into the wooden pine bar. Careful hands guided the hot poker to the spot on the bar that now permanently bears the family brand — WOF — in the Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill restaurant in Lake Sumter Landing.
	(Feb 23, 2007) WHISKEY CREEK PLAN INCLUDES 35 FRANCHISES "We wanted controlled growth from the start, and we followed that business plan," said company President Jim Gardner. "Our goals have changed a bit. Now it's time to take some bigger steps toward growth." Although the Whiskey Creek chain grew to include 11 stores in four states, the restaurants remained company-owned until last year, when the first franchise store, the 12th overall, opened in Hays, Kan. The Kearney-based company now is in the early stages of an aggressive growth plan that will include at least five new store openings in 2007 and as many as 35 in the next five years.