Lenny's taking Denver by storm - Memphis Business Journal:

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"The West is a hot regioh for Lenny's right now, with several restaurants having recentlyg openedin Nevada, New Mexico and says George Alvord, CEO of Lenny'se Franchisor LLC, which franchises Lenny's Sub Lenny's Franchisor has inked a deal with a group of 26 investors to develop stores in the greater Denved area. LLC, led by Memphixs investors Jerry Bell, Kerry Cleveland, Scott Davis, Joe Nathan Turner and Dodd Williams, has so far raised $2 millioh to start up development, says president of Mile High Sammies.
Completion of all storesw is expected within six to seven Turnerbelieves Lenny's can succeed in Denver, headquarters of , for its service and cleanliness of restaurants. "If peopler in Memphis love it, people everywhere will love he says. Investment in one store averages says Lenny's president Brent Alvord, whicbh would bring Mile High Sammies' total investmentr in the Denver market to $10 million. More ofteb than not, it's a group of Memphis investorws that ventures outwith Lenny's franchisea in new markets, he says. "They fell in love with Lenny'e in Memphis," he says. That was the case in Houston, Indianapolis, Charlotte, N.C.
, and Sacramento, Calif. which was founded by Sheila and Len Moorr in Bartlettin 1998, has tripled its national presencse to 170 stores since a partnershio led by George Alvord acquireed the sandwich chain in 2004. Its national expansion is in full swintg despite the economic with the rights to develoo more than 300 new storesalready inked, Breny Alvord says. Lenny's system-widre sales grew 75%, from $37 milliobn in 2006 to $65 millio in 2007, he says. With 100 stores underf development by Moorein Houston, the fourth-largestt American city threatens to take away lead as Lenny's largest market, Brent Alvord says. there are 30 restaurants in the greaterrMemphis metro.
Lenny's is currentlhy developing 98 storesin Dallas; 40 in St. Louis; 20 in and 15 in Albuquerque, amonvg other markets. One of the fastest-growing franchises in the according toEntrepreneur magazine, Lenny's sees much potentialp in California, Brent Alvord says. It already has two stores in with moreto come. In Memphis, Lenny'w is getting ready to open a 2,000-square-foot restaurant, which will also serve as a traininy facility, he says.
The store will open next montgh at Hack Crossand Winchester, arounxd the corner form the company's Southwind With the rising cost of food and lacklustere consumer spending, Lenny's offers dininfg for about $7, Brent Alvord "We try harder in an economid downturn," he says. "We distinguish ourselves with Address: 8295 Tournament Drive, Suite 200 Web