Back Yard Burgers Plans Three Area Stores

Back Yard Burgers Inc. of Memphis said on Aug. 28 that the company will open 25 new stores, including three in Arkansas.r

Kevin Rolf of Montgomery, Ala., entered into an agreement on Aug. 15 to develop 13 stores over the next seven years, including stores in Springdale, Rogers and Harrison.r

Rolf said he will open his first two Back Yard Burger stores in Springfield, Mo., then build one in Branson, Mo. The third store will likely be in Northwest Arkansas, he said.r

“We should probably be there looking at sites at the end of ’05 and opening in the first part of ’06,” Rolf said.r

Rolf said he needs at least 40,000 SF of land to build a store.r

Originally from Nebraska, Rolf was director of operations for Apple Rock Inc., which opened Applebee’s restaurants in North Little Rock in 1993, Hot Springs in 1994 and Little Rock in 1995.r

Rolf said his brothers, Mike and Don Rolf, will help him develop the 13 units.r

As of Aug. 25, Back Yard Burgers had 128 units, including 42 corporate stores and 86 franchised stores.r