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Tony Roma’s to expand to Sydney and Melbourne

Sarah Stowe

The US restaurant brand Tony Roma’s is moving into Sydney and Melbourne. There is currently one Tony Roma’s in Perth, Australia, owned and operated by franchise partners Harry Djakaria and Denning Chong. 

Australia Romacorp, Inc., parent company of Tony Roma’s and TR Fire Grill, has signed a new development agreement with Three Home Runs to build an additional three Tony Roma’s outlets in Australia.

“We are excited about this new agreement as it allows us to grow our Tony Roma’s brand in key markets throughout Australia, where we know guests will fall in love with our world-famous ribs and signature food and beverages,” said Ken Myres, president of Romacorp, Inc. “Harry and Denning are great partners with a strong passion for our brand and knowledge of the Australian consumer, and we’re confident that their leadership will be a driving force for Tony Roma’s future growth in Australia.”

Under the new agreement, Three Home Runs Pty. Ltd. will expand the brand to the Sydney and Melbourne markets. Exact locations and timing for the new restaurants have not yet been determined.

“With the success of our Tony Roma’s restaurant in Perth, we have had many guests ask us to bring our iconic brand to other Australian markets so they could enjoy our signature products more often,” said Harry Djakaria.

“We would like to focus on CBD locations because that is what we know; we will be considering shopping centres when we have a more established presence and identifiable demand. I don’t like to rush our expansion.”

The plan is for the second outlet to open by mid 2016. Djakaria is looking for local business partners for the locations.

Romacorp, Inc., is the parent company of Tony Roma’s restaurants, a global casual dining concept specialising in ribs, which has more than 150 restaurant locations in more than 30 countries. The first Tony Roma’s restaurant opened more than 40 years ago in North Miami, Florida.