Seattle-Based Full Service Casual Restaurant Opens New Locations in Alberta, Oregon, Anchorage and Washington; Announces Plans to Expand to Southern California and Dallas
The Rock, Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits, a Seattle-based award-winning gourmet pizza and full service restaurant with a gritty rock ‘n’ roll vibe, is excited to announce a new franchise member and the opening of multiple new restaurants across North America. The expansion includes three new markets, marking the most significant period of expansion in the company’s history.
The Rock recently opened its newest locations in Edmonton, Alberta and Salem, Ore. and is currently building its first location in Anchorage, Alaska as well as opening a 12th Washington state location in Kennewick. In addition, The Rock will enter the Southern California and Dallas markets in 2014. Opening dates for the new restaurants are as follows:
· Edmonton, Alberta – August 30, 2013
· Salem, Ore. – September 16, 2013
· Anchorage, Alaska – October 14, 2013
· Kennewick, Wash. – January 2014
· Dallas, Texas – spring 2014
· Southern California – 2014
“We are excited to turn it up a notch with the addition of our Edmonton and Salem restaurants and look forward to opening in Anchorage and Kennewick very soon,” said Don Bellis, co-founder and president of The Rock. “Each of the cities’ diverse economic landscape, community atmosphere and vibrant arts and entertainment offerings are a great fit for our laidback, family-friendly restaurant concept.”
“As we continue to expand across North America, each community has shown overwhelming support,” added Jay Gigandet, co-founder and CFO of The Rock. “We are excited to provide a community gathering place with great food, drinks, service and digs.”
Edmonton, Alberta (Skyview, Ltd.)
The contractor for the 5,080-square-foot Edmonton restaurant, located at 13580 137th Avenue, was TJ Construction of Edmonton, Alberta and the architect was David A. Clark Architects of Auburn, Wash. The new franchise restaurant is operated by Skyview, Ltd. The existing location in Red Deer, Alberta is operated by Sandy Nesbitt and the restaurant in Calgary is owned and operated by Royal Oak, Ltd.
Salem, Ore. and Kennewick, Wash. (Hot Stone, LLC)
The contractor for the 7,563-square-foot Salem restaurant, the 20th installment of the Rock, was Break On Through Construction of Vancouver, Wash. and the architect was David A. Clark Architects of Auburn, Wash. The new franchise restaurant, located at 3610 Center Street Northeast, is owned by Hot Stone LLC, which also owns The Rock restaurants in Hillsboro and Wood Village, Ore. and Vancouver, Wash. Hot Stone LLC brings more than 25 years of multi-restaurant ownership experience to its partnership with The Rock, including Taco Del Mar storefronts in Portland, Ore. It is also the franchise owner of the Kennewick location, slated to open in January 2014.
Anchorage, Alaska and Dallas, Texas (The Wedge Corp.)
The new Anchorage restaurant, located at 3401 Penland Parkway, will be owned and operated by Gigandet and Bellis’ Wedge Corp., which also owns the corporate Washington state locations in Seattle, Covington, Federal Way, Lake Tapps, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Renton, Puyallup, Lacey and Tacoma. The contractor of the 7,200-square-foot restaurant is Jackson Dean Construction of Tukwila, Wash. and the architect is David A. Clark Architects of Auburn, Wash. Wedge Corp. also plans to expand into Texas with three new locations opening in Dallas/Ft. Worth in early 2014.
Orange County, California (Loverock, LLC)
Keep Rockin, LLC has granted Loverock, LLC a four store Area Development Agreement for The Orange County, Calif. market and its first location will open in the first quarter of 2014. Loverock, LLC is owned by Nick Mao and Drew Nelson. Mao brings years of experience in restaurant ownership and national expansion with concepts including California-based Yard House and Nelson owns his own video production company and has spent several years traveling with music bands and artists around the world.
Upon opening in Southern California and Dallas, The Rock, Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits will be available in six states and one Canadian province.
Guests at The Rock can choose from an award-winning menu of rock ‘n’ roll-inspired pizzas as well as burgers, pastas, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, specialty Rocktails and more. The menu has earned The Rock top honors, including best pizza in KING 5 Evening Magazine’s “Best of Western Washington” for four consecutive years, a spot on Pizza Today’s list of Top 100 pizza companies and Restaurant Business FUTURE 50.
The Rock currently has 11 restaurants in Washington state, three in Colorado, three in Oregon and three in Alberta, Canada. For more information about The Rock, visit www.TheRockWFP.com or call (253) 987-5479. Follow The Rock on Facebook and on Twitter.
About The Rock
The Rock, Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits first opened in 1995 as a gritty, local pizza joint in Tacoma, Wash. The unique atmosphere and gourmet pizza quickly gained recognition, leading to growth throughout the Northwest. The Rock currently operates 11 restaurants in Washington state; three in Alberta, Canada; three in Colorado and two in Oregon. Named America’s Number One Independently Owned Pizza Chain by Pizza Today magazine in 2008, The Rock has also been recognized as Best Pizza in KING 5 Evening Magazine’s “Best of Western Washington” for four consecutive years. For more information about The Rock, visit www.TheRockWFP.com or call (253) 987-5479.
