Latest news with #JimPlamondon
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Cowboy-Inspired Chain Came Back After Nearly Closing All Of Its Locations
In 2023, fans of both The King of the Cowboys and classic fast food got some exciting news: Roy Rogers, once a prominent competitor in the American fast-food industry, was back. The chain was a go-to for indecisive families in the 1970s and '80s, offering a variety of different options, such as roast beef, burgers, and fried chicken. While it never reached every state, Roy Rogers once boasted over 600 locations. A series of poor business decisions and sales in the '90s, however, nearly ruined the brand, leaving it with only a fraction of its former locations. The cowboy-inspired chain was revived after owners Jim and Pete Plamondon Jr. purchased the brand and invested heavily in new remodels and equipment. Their new franchise strategy, updated looks, and a return to what made the restaurant beloved in the first place proved to be the perfect recipe for a comeback. Today, new locations have people lining up from midnight for a 10 a.m. opening, eager to get a taste of this American classic. Roy Rogers is now one of several old-school restaurant chains making a successful return. Read more: Ranking Fast Food Burgers From Worst To Best, According To Reddit What Happened To Roy Rogers Before The Comeback? Roy Rogers, a fast food chain that served beef tallow fries, top-grade burgers, and had a full-service condiment bar for customers to dress their own meals, seemed like an unstoppable juggernaut. But its downfall came after Marriott sold it to Hardee's in 1990 to exit its interest in the restaurant industry. Throughout the '90s, Hardee's converted or sold off over 500 Roy Rogers locations, sparking significant pushback from the public. This eventually led to Hardee's converting some locations back to Roy Rogers, but the damage was done, and even more locations were sold off. By the time the Plamondon brothers took over in 2002, the brand had only a handful of locations left in the country. Seeing potential in an iconic brand with a loyal customer base, the brothers knew it would take a lot of work to restore it to its full potential. For over a decade, the Plamondons rebooted the brand's identity and expanded throughout the Northeast, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia. As of July 2025, the chain boasts 41 locations, the majority of which are in Maryland. The Roy Rogers of today serves many of the classic dishes that once made it famous, from creamed chipped beef — a breakfast dish that became a U.S. Army staple — to its Double R Bar Burger, complete with a slice of ham on top. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. Read the original article on Food Republic. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
04-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Iconic fried chicken fast food chain opens latest location, eyeing comeback
Roy Rogers Restaurants is reviving its brand on the East Coast. The company – named after the legendary actor, singer and 'King of the Cowboys' – opened a location in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, last week, marking the chain's return to the southern New Jersey and Philadelphia markets since the 1990s. Advertisement 'We are excited to make this long-anticipated return, and Cherry Hill allows us to serve a growing, diverse community and introduce a new generation to the quality and variety that makes Roy Rogers a cut above,' Roy Rogers Restaurants co-President Jim Plamondon said in a statement. The company thanked Cherry Hill 'for the best welcome to the community' on Instagram following its opening and hinted that there is 'more to come.' The Maryland-based chain was founded in 1968. In 1990, Marriott sold the Roy Rogers chain, which had nearly 650 locations, to Hardee's for $365 million. 3 Roy Rogers Restaurants is reviving its brand with a new location in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. X/RoysRestaurants Advertisement 3 The location marks the chain's return to the southern New Jersey and Philadelphia markets. X/RoysRestaurants 3 The Maryland-based chain was founded in 1968. X/RoysRestaurants After the sale, Hardee's converted a significant number of the locations to Hardee's restaurants, and then sold more than 350 restaurants several years later to Boston Chicken, Wendy's and McDonald's, according to its website. Peter Plamondon Sr., a former Marriott executive who became a franchisee of Roy Rogers Restaurants, sold his franchise to his sons, Pete Jr. and Jim, in the late 1990s. Advertisement By 2002, the brothers purchased the Roy Rogers brand from Hardee's parent company CKE Restaurants. The duo have been credited with helping open and operate multiple Roy Rogers restaurants. In the early 2000s, the restaurant concept was 'rebooted' as it began its expansion. To date, there are 24 company-owned restaurants and 16 franchise restaurants in seven states.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Legendary fast food restaurant Roy Rogers makes long-awaited comeback as it plans East Coast expansion
Roy Rogers, the legendary fast food chain, has made a long-awaited comeback in New Jersey. The business opened its newest location in Cherry Hill last week, making it the first restaurant to open in the South Jersey or Philadelphia area in decades. Jim Plamondon, co-president of Roy Rogers, told 'We knew that making the long-anticipated return to Cherry Hill would be impactful, but we never could have predicted the level of excitement and dedication we have experienced over the past week.' He added: 'We are beyond grateful for the decades-long patrons that have visited the store and shared their stories. 'The nostalgia is certainly a driving force behind what we do and our hope to continue growing upon this momentum into new markets.' The Cherry Hill restaurant is the first location to open since the company made six-store openings in Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey in 2016. Named after 'The King Of The Cowboys', Roy Rogers once ran over 640 restaurants nationwide. Now, the 57-year-old chain runs less than 50 locations across five states. The restaurant celebrated the New Jersey opening with a ribbon cutting and thanked its fans who came out to enjoy 'delicious beef, burgers, and chicken'. Roy Rogers guests flooded the restaurant during its grand opening. One person on Instagram wrote: 'Tried twice going there but couldn't get close to the joint. Cars lined up a mile down the road, cops directing traffic… tried today and same thing, line was out the door and people standing out in the heat waiting to get it.' An influencer known as 'What Should I Eat Philly' on Instagram tried some of the food in a video while visiting the Cherry Hill restaurant. Roy Rogers owner Jim Plamondon suggested she try the Roast Beef Burger, his 'favorite' offering. Reports claimed that everyone was talking about the Double R Bar Burger, while a first-time Roy Rogers eater praised the Chicken Biscuit. The blogger tried all of the recommended foods, and instantly became a fan. Restaurant-goers are now requesting Roy Rogers open new restaurants in states like Florida and Illinois, and a fan even suggested the chain open a location in Mexico.
CBS News
25-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Iconic restaurant chain Roy Rogers returns to Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Roy Rogers to open first location since the 80s in Cherry Hill, New Jersey Roy Rogers to open first location since the 80s in Cherry Hill, New Jersey Roy Rogers to open first location since the 80s in Cherry Hill, New Jersey The western-themed chain Roy Rogers made its long-awaited return to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Wednesday. It's the restaurant's first return to the South Jersey and Philadelphia area since the 1980s. "It has always been a priority for the brand to make this long-anticipated return, and Cherry Hill allows us to serve a growing, diverse community and introduce a new generation to the quality and variety that Roy Rogers is known for," Jim Plamondon, co-president of Roy Rogers Restaurants, said. The chain is known for its "Triple Threat" roast beef, hand-breaded fried chicken, and fresh burgers. The new location also features the iconic Fixin's Bar, featuring lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and more. The 3,300-square-foot restaurant, formerly restaurant PDQ, features a drive-thru, indoor and outdoor seating. Located at 614 Haddonfield Rd., the restaurant is near retail locations like Cherry Hill Mall and Garden State Park and just 10 minutes from Center City. "This is a true celebration for our Roy Rogers family, and we look forward to continuing the excitement over the next few months as we meet our new and returning Royalists," Plamondon said. "Connecting with other local businesses and organizations is very important to us, so that we may become a contributor to the culture and success of the Cherry Hill community." The restaurant will host a grand opening ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, featuring remarks from Plamondon and Cherry Hill Mayor David Fleisher. Roy Rogers was founded in 1968 and features 24 company-owned establishments and 16 franchise restaurants across seven states.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roy Rogers to launch new outlet in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Fast-food chain Roy Rogers Restaurants is set to open a new outlet in Cherry Hill in the US state of New Jersey on 25 June 2025. This marks the brand's first return to the markets of southern New Jersey and Philadelphia since the 1990s. Located at 614 Haddonfield Road, the Cherry Hill restaurant will offer guests the Roy Rogers' 'Triple Threat' menu featuring roast beef, burgers, hand-breaded fried chicken and chicken tenders. The brand's Fixins' Bar will allow customers to customise their sandwiches with a selection of toppings. The new 3,300 ft² outlet is in a prime shopping area, ten minutes from Center City Philadelphia. Its enhancements include a drive-through and increased indoor and outdoor seating options. The new venue is the only burger drive-through on Haddonfield Road, and is surrounded by three million square feet of retail area. Roy Rogers Restaurants co-president Jim Plamondon stated: 'The feedback from the Cherry Hill community since we announced this new restaurant has been overwhelmingly positive, and we have been working hard to make this opening a grand success.' The chain, known for its Western-themed dining experience, was founded in 1968. It operates 24 company-owned and 16 franchise restaurants across seven states. In September 2024, Roy Rogers Restaurants' franchisee Mohammed Haque acquired the chain's corporate location in Waldorf, Maryland. "Roy Rogers to launch new outlet in Cherry Hill, New Jersey" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
