Five Guys announces first Australian store
Five Guys has chosen Penrith for it first Australian restaurant.
The US hamburger chain, which held Shaquille O’Neal as franchisee, is also soon expected to announce a Sydney CBD store.
After striking a master franchise agreement with Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group last year, it has earmarked an initial 20 national outlets and one in New Zealand.
Founded in Arlington in 1986, Five Guys trades from about 1650 properties in the US, Europe and Asia, including at shopping centres and strip shops and in train stations, universities and stadiums.
The business is reported to have another 1500 restaurants in a planning pipeline.
Coincidentally, the Penrith store is next door to the Krispy Kreme outlet which was the first outside of the US when it opened in 2003.
Five Guys Penrith
Five Guys will occupy a freestanding single storey building occupying the bulk of a c500 square metre site vacated by Silver Spur Steak Ranch following the COVID lockdown.
The venue is beside a KFC and McDonald’s, within the Panthers Penrith Leagues Club, on Mulgoa Road, and sees 60,000 daily car movements.
Internally it is fitted with a large entrance, dining spaces and playroom.
It abuts c350 car parks.
Penrith is a major activity centre 50 kilometres west of the CBD (story continues below).
Five Guys operations manager Robby Andronikos said the suburb is earmarked for above average population growth and will benefit from the nearby Western Sydney Airport, which is under construction.
Raine & Horne Commercial’s Gavin Shatford closed an expressions of interest for the Mulgoa Rd space in September.
The partnership is reported to have outbid 27 suitors, amongst them, Milky Lane, also a boutique burger chain (but which is licensed and also specialises in cocktails).
Five Guys will open in April/May.
Seagrass, a private equity group founded and led by Bradley Michael, controls brands 6 Head, Butcher and the Farmer, Hunter & Barrel, Italian Street Kitchen, The Meat & Wine Co and Ribs & Burgers.
Recent restaurant lease deals
The Five Guys commitment comes weeks after a business backed by US actor Mark Wahlberg and two brothers announced some 20 Australian Wahlburger stores would open early this year, after that chain formed a partnership with the Mustaca family’s United Cinemas.
Last month El Jannah rented its first restaurant outside of NSW: a former Hungry Jack’s outlet in Melbourne’s Preston.
Mexican fast food chain Taco Bell has also been expanding nationally – it rented a Roxburgh Park outlet last month, also its first Victorian drive-thru.
In that city’s St Kilda, the operators of bar Veludo leased the prominent St Kilda property for 27 years occupied by Big Mouth.
