A 1950s American-style diner chain is hoping to open additional restaurants in Northern Ireland.
And Armagh is understood to be among favoured locations.
Eddie Rocket’s – which has just celebrated 25 years in business – opened its first outlet in the north just last year.
The restaurant, at The Quays Shopping Centre in Newry, has proved to be an outstanding success to date.
The 1950s American diner culture has been popularised by Hollywood movies such as Grease, American Graffiti and the Back to the Future franchise.
The chain served to fill a major niche market on this side of the Atlantic when it was founded by Niall Fortune.
It now has 36 restaurants – 25 of which are run by franchisees – with all, bar one, based in the Republic of Ireland.
Eddie Rocket’s prides itself on using 100% Irish beef and the themed restaurant is famed for its hamburgers, hotdogs, tenders, fries, shakes and malts.
It’s foray north into Newry has whet the appetite of the company for further expansion.
It is considered that Armagh could be a natural progression.
And Armagh I understands that Portadown, Craigavon and Lurgan may also be of interest by the team tasked with securing sites.
A spokesperson for Eddie Rocket’s Ireland Ltd confirmed to Armagh I: “Our move into Northern Ireland with our diner at the Quays Shopping Centre in Newry has been very encouraging and we’re looking at sites in Northern Ireland currently.”
No locations have been secured as yet so there are no imminent openings scheduled.
But the spokesperson explained that the team could be on the “lookout for a suitable location, not only in Armagh but in a number of areas at any one time”.
Eddie Rocket’s is currently enjoying continued growth and last year made profits in excess of £38 million.
Over the next three years, the company hopes to almost triple the number of outlets – from 36 to 100 – in a major expansion plan.
This is expected to include its more portable ‘Rocket’s’ outlets.
Eddie Rocket’s – which helps sell itself with the slogan ‘There ain’t no finer diner’ – serves up over two million burgers and 1,000 tonnes of fries annually!
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