A Taste Sensation from Mexico Hits Houston...
Grand Opening Festival for RanchO Chicken draws huge crowds,rave reviews for authentic Mexican-style rotisserie chicken
Two Houston brothers, raised in Mexico, combine their entrepreneurial skills to open the first store -- RanchO Chicken -- in a planned chain of authentic, Mexican-style rotisserie chicken franchises. The quick service restaurant is located in the heart of Houston's Hispanic community on "restaurant row."
Houston, TX (PRWEB) July 20, 2004 -- RanchO Chicken LLC, a new Houston-based restaurant chain, is bringing authentic, Mexican-style rotisserie chicken to the U.S. market. Located at 5611 Bellaire Blvd. in the heart of Houstons Hispanic community, the first store introduced a mouthwatering delicacy to the masses at a Grand Opening Festival on Saturday and continued to draw large crowds this week.
While there are numerous Tex-Mex fast food restaurants in Houston, brothers Jesse and Jeremy Schwarz recognized the potential demand for traditional food served in Mexico. Raised in Mexico City, Jesse, 31, and Jeremy, 29, pooled their resources to fund RanchO Chickens first unit.
"Affordable, authentic Mexican dishes are hard to find in this country," said Jesse Schwarz, chief executive officer of RanchO Chicken. "In Houston, the Hispanic community is hungry for a taste of home. I personally missed eating these tasty dishes found in the traditional rotisseries of Mexico. The success of our grand opening on Saturday proved everyone enjoys the taste of pollo rostizado auténtico."
Seasoned entrepreneurs, Jesse and Jeremy have started several businesses. Jesse, an alumnus of the University of Houston, graduated cum laude from the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Houston. After college, he founded several companies including -- V2B Capital, LLC, a consulting and implementation services firm working with venture capital and investment firms like Kenmont Capital Partners, LP and Peregrine Holdings, Inc. V2B's services were a key factor in the growth of a profitable software company, AECSoft USA, Inc.
To "get it right," the Schwarz bothers traveled back home to their grandmothers kitchen in Mexico City to bring back the proprietary family recipe. Jesse and Jeremy had to learn from their father the intricacies of delicately slow-roasting chicken over a wood-burning fire to seal in the rich flavors characteristic of this genuine taste of Mexico.
"Attention to detail is the reason our rotisserie chicken is so tasty," contends Jeremy, Chief Operating Officer. "Our Hispanic customers will savor the flavor of their home country, and Americans will appreciate this new, reliable dining experience."
RanchO Chicken also serves other Mexican-style foods: Elotes, steamed corn on the cob, and Esquites, a corn dish served in a cup with mayonnaise, cheese, lime and chile. Other popular menu items and side dishes include tortilla soup, Mexican rice, pinto beans, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, potato salad and ethnic desserts. In time, traditional breakfast foods will be added to the menu.
"With a whole chicken and two side dishes priced at $11.25, and a half chicken with two sides at $6.25, the cost is both nominal and competitively priced for our target market," Jesse emphasized.
Bill Sherrill, a member of RanchO Chicken's Advisory Board, cut the ribbon Saturday to open the restaurant's front door. The former Governor of the Federal Reserve Board and Director of the FDIC currently serves as the Director for the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UH.
The Schwarz brothers greeted patrons who lined up to enjoy the "back home" cuisine at the restaurants Grand Opening Festival. The owners handed out free chicken, corn, drinks, balloons, DVD players, various electronic gifts and coupons as waiting crowds listened to a live band playing popular Latino music and children played on a Jumbo Bounce.
The restaurants first location on Bellaire is spacious -- more then 2,800 square feet with seating for 78 diners, and a parking lot that accommodates 58 vehicles. A drive-through window is available for customers in a hurry. Business hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., seven days a week.
"Our grand opening festival was a big success," said Jesse. "We knew Houston needed an affordable restaurant specializing in authentic Mexican cuisine, and the crowds on Saturday and Sunday proved our point. Demand for rotisserie chicken and other traditional south-of-the-border dishes met and exceeded our expectations."
Growth Plans
"We've identified four primary trade areas in Houston for immediate expansion and feel the Hispanic community can support at least 14 additional locations," said CEO Schwarz. "We have a model for two sizes of stores: our current full service, dine-in, freestanding building and a smaller 1,200 to 1,600 square- foot facility with a smaller room for inside dining."
"We plan on raising capital for corporate-owned store growth as well as to begin franchising units in the near future," he disclosed. "With additional sources of capital, we will seek expansion into other cities."
About RanchO Chicken:
RanchO Chicken is a new Houston-based restaurant chain, specializing in authentic Mexican rotisserie chicken and other popular Hispanic foods. For additional information on RanchO Chicken and the company founders, visit the corporate Web site: www.ranchochicken.com.
URLs are available for the following digital images:
Jesse Schwarz -- www.ranchochicken.com/pics/jesse.JPG
The Schwarz brothers -- www.ranchochicken.com/pics/brothers.JPG
Other pictures can be found on the website: www.ranchochicken.com
For Additional Information or Interviews:
Jesse Schwarz, CEO, Rancho Chicken, Houston, 713-320-4610, jesse@ranchochicken.com
Preston F. Kirk, APR, Kirk Public Relations, Austin, TX, 830-693-4447; kirk@281.com
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