By Wendy Anders

Johnny Rockets celebrates its third anniversary in Costa Rica and continues with its expansion plans, the company announced last week.

The classic American food franchise has four restaurants in Costa Rica, all located in the province of San José. The restaurants are open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

“We are very grateful to Costa Rica and its people who have allowed us to grow in these three years … and we expect to continue to see growth with new projects,” said Andrea Rojas, Johnny Rockets Manager in Costa Rica.

The franchise is scheduled to open its fifth site at the end of the year in Escazú’s Village Shopping Center currently under construction next to the Escazú Walmart.

The franchise’s most recently opened a locale at Lindora, Santa Ana’s Lindora Terrazas Mall, and has found a good acceptance there, said Rojas.

The first Johnny Rockets in Costa Rica opened in 2013 at Moravia’s Lincoln Plaza, later expanding to two other restaurants one at Multiplaza Curridabat and the other at Universal Plaza in downtown San José.

Its total investment in Costa Rica has been approximately US$2.5 million to date, and when its fifth locale opens it will employ 74 people total.

The menu offers more than 100 different products among which favorites in Costa Rica are the Smoke House Cheddar and Bacon and Route 66 hamburgers, in addition to the 20 different milkshakes, including Hershey’s® Chocolate and Cookies & Oreo® Cream. In addition, every six weeks Johnny Rockets offers a new special menu of seasonal burgers and a new milkshake flavor.

 

The prices of menu items range from three thousand to seven thousand colones.

The menu, presentation, counter seating and grilling area are based on an original restaurant from 1947 (still operating today), The Apple Pan, in West Los Angeles, California. Johnny Rocket restaurants feature a small two-sided menu. Hamburgers are grilled-to-order in full view of the customers and are served wrapped in paper on paper plates, according to ChowHound.com.

“Johnny Rockets distinguishes itself by serving classic American food, and this is prepared with quality and fresh ingredients. For example, the meat used for the hamburgers is always fresh, never frozen, and the bread is handmade in Costa Rica. We also strive to provide a pleasant experience for customers in each restaurant. Our goal is for customers to have an authentic 1950s American diner experience,” said Rojas.

The world’s largest Johnny Rockets franchise opened on June 6, 2012, in Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic. The restaurant has more than 6,000 square feet (560 m2) and comfortable seating for more than 200 guests, according to RestaurantNews.com.