Back Yard Burgers signs deal for new restaurant design

After 18 consecutive months of same-store sales increases, Back Yard Burgers has moved forward with a plan to develop a new restaurant model.

The better-burger brand recently signed a deal with Cakewalk, a San Francisco design firm, to develop a new look and feel that is a better representation of the food quality.

“It is a very exciting time for Back Yard Burgers. The company has built a tremendous amount of momentum, and it is important for us to plan for the future,” said Monte Jump, the company’s chief operating officer and chief marketing officer.

According to Jump, Back Yard Burgers’ executives, franchisees and the board of directors have discussed the project for more than a year. The Nashville, Tennessee-based brand has 68 restaurants, which are primarily located in the Southeastern U.S. Jump said the design project is intended to enhance Back Yard Burgers’ entire floor design, including the dining room and kitchen layout. One unknown is whether guests will have a full view of the kitchen from the dining room and drive thru.

Cakewalk will produce up to three designs with at least one design incorporating a view of the kitchen. After Cakewalk provides Back Yard Burgers with the initial proposals, the company’s board of directors, franchise advisory council and focus groups will select a winning design. Back Yard Burgers expects to be able to offer the new restaurant design in April 2015.

“The project will provide an updated restaurant design that will attract new franchisees and provide our existing franchisees with standards for them to remodel their restaurants,” Jump added. “When you remodel there is, typically, a fairly sizeable sales increase, and we believe this will help us elevate the brand.”

Back Yard Burgers recently released impressive results for the third quarter of 2014 ending September 30. The brand’s company-owned restaurants reported an 11.2 percent increase compared to the same period earlier.