A new Johnny Rockets restaurant opened in Costa Rica during January, and the California fast-food chain is not planning to slow down its expansion in our country. The new franchise location is situated in the heart of Downtown San Jose, precisely in the Plaza Universal food court on the Avenida Central pedestrian boulevard.

According to a news report filed by Nancy Alfaro of daily newspaper La Prensa Libre, this is the third Johnny Rockets restaurant in Costa Rica; the first two opened in Multiplaza del Este, Curridabat and Lincoln Plaza in Moravia, both suburbs of San Jose.

This new Johnny Rockets in Costa Rica measures 78 square meters in an open food court floor plan that shares space with other fast-food franchises from the United States such as Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. About 8,.000 monthly visits are expected at this busy location, which is located atop the Librería Universal department store.

Part of the retro, 1950s theme of Johnny Rockets includes a choreographed routine that employees perform every half hour. Patrons can cue up music to be played from mini jukeboxes located on each table (these are called Rockolas in Costa Rica). The menu emphasizes hamburgers, french fries and milk shakes. The franchise also observes a strong focus on providing family entertainment, which is a factor that will certainly help the company as it seeks expansion in Costa Rica.

Although Johnny Rockets recalls the popular culture sentiment of a bygone era in the United States, it is interesting to note that the first restaurant did not open until 1986 in Los Angeles. From then on, the franchise grew at a meteoric pace, opening its 100^th location in Coral Gables, a tony suburb of Miami.

Johnny Rockets plans to open three more locations in Costa Rica: Escazú, Santa Ana and Alajuela.