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Port Washington-based fast food franchisees John and Jeff Froccaro are getting into something a little slower.
The brothers who already own and operate 38 Burger King restaurants on Long Island and environs, have secured a 10-store deal to bring a mid-Atlantic concept called The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille here.
A regional sports bar/casual dining chain with 34 locations in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., The Greene Turtle is in the midst of a major expansion - 150 stores within the next three to five years - and the Froccaros are kicking it off the Northeast expansion on Long Island.
"We felt strongly about staying close to our home base, and this being a mature market now for Burger King, we still feel there are some opportunities long term with this type of vehicle," said John Froccaro. "We think it just opens up a lot more doors for us."
The Froccaros' experience in the restaurant business began in 1982, when their dad, James, a Burger King exec, opened his first burger joint in Port Washington. Since then, they've built a mini-empire, and their success hasn't been lost on Greene Turtle executives, who recruited the brothers to become the company's largest franchisees.
The Froccaros plan to open about two locations a year to satisfy their deal that will eventually put five restaurants in Nassau and five in Suffolk.
A 7,500-square-foot former Boulder Creek restaurant in Franklin Square is currently undergoing a conversion into a Greene Turtle, which will be the Froccaros' first. Converting old...