Cleveland Business News
Ground Round opens at the Midway Mall in Elyria, OH. The restaurant opened on November 18th and is a franchise owned locally by Joe Doleh, a resident of Westlake, OH. The conversion of a former Bennigan’s restaurant at Midway Mall includes Ground Round’s newest design elements, a family dining room and a sports bar lounge, and a menu full of new offerings available in both areas.More than 100 employees from the area have been hired and the restaurant plans to add an outdoor patio to the facility following the winter season. "We’re excited to bring Ground Round back to a market where the brand is known and guests are happy to see us again, only this time with a menu and design even better than they remember," states Joe Doleh, who also owns two Ground Round restaurants in the Pittsburgh, PA area. The new restaurant will be managed by Jay Neal. Jay brings nearly 20 years of industry experience to the position and resides locally in Lorain, OH. He joined Mr. Doleh’s company just in time to complete certified training, lead the opening effort and return to Ground Round, a brand he once worked for in his past. "I’m happy to be back. Ground Round is a two room design with great value for families and adults meeting friends," offers Mr. Neal. "The Ground Round in Elyria is one of 4 new restaurants opening for our brand, and Joe is a key player in these plans," says Jack Crawford, President & CEO of Ground Round Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC (IOC). Other Ground Round openings in the past year include open restaurants in Augusta, ME, Brookings, SD, and a 4th location under construction and opening in December in Langhorne, PA. The Ground Round IOC Cooperative represents a group of independent franchise owners who purchased the Ground Round Franchise Rights and Trademarks in 2004. Since the brand acquisition, the group is now debt free, expanding with 4 new openings in 2011, and offers a unique franchise model whereby it’s franchisees can own their own restaurant, and have an ownership/membership stake in the overall future and growth of the brand. The IOC presently operates 25 restaurants in 12 U.S. States, with headquarters based in Freeport, ME
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