A new partnership will allow Legal Sea Foods to greatly expand its restaurant presence nationwide, according to a recent announcement by the company. At the same time, the Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based restaurant chain is also adding to its retail products in the United States, it said.
Legal is partnering with Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of the RLJ Companies – which invests in real estate and a number of other ventures – to expand its airport restaurant locations nationwide.
“We have the brand and the operational expertise, and Robert Johnson has the background in airports and the real estate expertise. He is very interested in the airline business and airports,” Legal CEO Roger Berkowitz told SeafoodSource.
Legal already operates five restaurants in Logan International Airport in Boston, along with one in Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. and one in Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The restaurant chain operates 34 total restaurants in all.
“From a branding perspective, airports offer some of the most efficient ways of extending a brand,” Berkowitz said. Food can be delivered directly from Legal’s South Boston plant into the airports, he added.
Berkowitz cannot say exactly how many airport locations the restaurant chain will open, but he would like to open “as many as we can.”
“The nature of airport restaurants is, when leases come available, you apply. We are applying to a number of airports right now,” Berkowitz said.
Legal would like to start opening more airport locations along the East Coast, and then the Midwest before pushing towards the West Coast, according to Berkowitz.
To go along with the nationwide airport push, Legal aims to grow retail sales of its value-added products throughout the U.S. Its frozen clam chowder and other products are already distributed to retailers via Blount Fine Foods. Specialty food producer Stonewall Kitchen also produces some Legal products, including a new Fish Fry Mix and a Malt Vinegar Aioli.
Future retail products will include a shrimp line, which will feature raw and cooked offerings, along with shrimp meals, Berkowitz said.
Photo courtesy of Legal Sea Foods
