Burger 21 grows to 10 states

TAMPA — Burger 21 has signed its first franchise agreement in Michigan. Mohammad and Wisal Samaha, multiunit Jimmy John's franchisees, have agreed to open the first Burger 21 location in Ann Arbor, Mich., by summer 2015. That would expands the brand's footprint to 10 states.

At the same time, the company also announced two new franchise agreements for single units in Ocala and Raleigh, N.C. John Usher and Ken DePasquale will open a restaurant in Ocala in the first half of 2015. Both partners are restaurant operators with Usher having owned nine McDonald's restaurants, while DePasquale has operated several independent restaurants. Mitch Neal and Keith Smith are planning to open their first restaurant in the Morrisville area of Raleigh, N.C., by summer 2015. Neal, who has owned and operated eight Sonic drive-in locations, will manage the restaurant's day-to-day operations.

The new franchise agreements come a week before Burger 21 is scheduled to open its first restaurant in upstate New York. Owned and operated by Mike Stygles and Bruce Anderson, Burger 21, Albany in the Village at New Loudon in Latham is scheduled to open Aug. 25 and employ 70 people. The franchisee partners also own The Melting Pot of Syracuse and Stygles owns The Melting Pot locations in Albany and Poughkeepsie, N.Y.