J. Christopher’s Ownership Changes Hands
J. Christopher’s Restaurants, LLC announced that it had acquired the remaining equity of the J. Christopher’s brand. As a result of this transaction Sam Haddock and Dick Holbrook now own the brand, concept, all intellectual property and franchising rights of the concept as well as the two company-owned restaurants. Jeff McCann and Chris Brogdon the founders and former partners with Haddock and Holbrook will continue to own and operate their J. Christopher’s Restaurants under a License Agreement with J. Christopher’s Restaurants, LLC. Brogdon also operates Franchised Restaurants in Nashville, Tenn. and Macon Ga.
“Our relationship with Jay and Chris has truly been a great partnership,” said Dick Holbrook, CEO of J. Christopher’s Restaurants. “Their vision to create a neighborhood daytime breakfast and lunch spot serving familiar food with flair combined with the knowledge that Sam and I have about the restaurant industry has catapulted the success of J. Christopher’s. We look forward to taking the brand to even greater heights and will without a doubt continue to consult with Jay and Chris on a regular basis.”
The first J. Christopher’s restaurant opened in 1996 in Marietta, Ga. In August 2007, the founders of J. Christopher’s, Jay McCann and Chris Brogdon, partnered with industry veterans Dick Holbrook and Sam Haddock and created a new company called J. Christopher’s Restaurants, LLC. Although McCann and Brogdon have relinquished their part in the corporate matters of the business, they will continue to operate 18 of the restaurants under license agreements. Brogdon and a partner opened the first franchised J. Christopher’s restaurant in Franklin, Tenn. in November of 2007 and have the rights to develop more franchised restaurants in the Nashville area. Brogdon and a partner opened a second franchised J. Christopher’s restaurant in Macon, Ga. in January of this year.
Holbrook is the former president and chief operating officer of AFC Enterprises®, which was the parent company of Church’s Chicken™, Popeyes® Chicken & Biscuits, Cinnabon® and Seattle Coffee Company during his tenure. Haddock is currently a Partner and Manager of the Red Hawk Restaurant Group, LLC that own and operate Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurants in Alabama, and previously served in executive positions at Rally’s Hamburgers, Popeyes® Chicken and Biscuits and Winners International.
In 2008, J. Christopher’s opened two new restaurants on Alpharetta Highway in Roswell, Ga. and Town Center in Kennesaw, Ga. This year, restaurants have opened in the Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek and in Macon, Ga. Additional 2009 openings will include the Atlanta neighborhoods of Brookhaven, Woodstock and Toco Hills as well as two potential locations in Nashville, Tenn.
