Johnny Rockets, a California-based chain known for cooked-to-order hamburgers and shakes, is preparing to open two locations in Victoria.
The company, which last fall signed a 40-restaurant master agreement in Canada with franchise partner Lewis Gelmon, intends to open at The Bay Centre and Hillside Centre in May 2017. Gelmon, who lives in Victoria, said the restaurants should do well in the city given the mix of traffic and tourists.
The Bay Centre location is the 1,579 square foot spot at the Fort Street entrance near Broad Street. The Hillside location will be included in its food court.
“Both locations will have express menus that offer burgers, shakes, fries and chicken,” said Gelmon.
The 30-year-old Johnny Rockets chain, which now has restaurants in 30 countries, had been known for its casual style, upbeat music and 1950s theme. That ’50s theme has been changed. “It rebranded in 2016 and moved away from the diner concept and ’50s style to something more modern,” said Gelmon. He said the new look is clean, modern and more visually appealing.
Gelmon, part of a group that was the Canadian master franchisee for Domino’s Pizza in the 1990s, expects to open 40 stores across the country within the next five years.
Vecima sells unit for $28.75 million
Victoria-based Vecima Networks has entered into an agreement to sell its Saskatchewan-based YourLink business to Xplornet Communications for $28.75 million. The sale will close in two parts, with the first $20 million expected to change hands this week, and the balance before the end of the second quarter. “Our strategic priority over the past five years has been to monetize non-core assets and focus on our core technology business,” said chief executive Sumit Kumar. “This sale marks the culmination of a multi-year effort where we have successfully created additional shareholder value through the sale of excess real estate, radio spectrum and, in the last six months, both B.C. Cable and this transaction.”
Chamber of Commerce names new board
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce 2017 board of directors is made up of chairman Al Hasham, vice-chair Dan Dagg, past-chair Frank Bourree, treasurer Kris Wirk, secretary John Wilson, executives at large Patricia Jelinski and Mark Mawhinney and directors Carmen Charette, Lise Gyorkos, Gary Kinar, Natasha Reger, Mark Smith and Cpt. (Navy) Steve Waddell. The Chamber’s Prodigy Group committee is made up of chairman Shaun Cerisano, vice-chair Julia Livingston, past-chair Kathy Khouri, board liaison Lise Gyorkos and directors Jason Carter, Ashley Finch-Field, Brianna Green, Rachel Paish and Ian Slipp.
