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May 21st, 2010
Jack in the Box springs out of the ground in Midwest City
Jack is back.
After a long absence from the Oklahoma City metro area, Jack in the Box is returning with a store slated for Midwest City at Town Center Plaza. Work began recently on the site along SE 29th Street, and company officials expect the restaurant to be up and running by this fall. A Norman Jack in the Box opened May 10, and plans call for additional stores in Oklahoma City and Moore. The company also has restaurants in Broken Arrow, Ardmore, Ada and Durant.
San Diego-based Jack in the Box Inc. bid Oklahoma farewell in 1982, according to company spokesman Brian Luscomb, and is now returning as the company broadens its scope across the Jack is back.
After a long absence from the Oklahoma City metro area, Jack in the Box is returning with a store slated for Midwest City at Town Center Plaza. Work began recently on the site along SE 29th Street, and company officials expect the restaurant to be up and running by this fall. A Norman Jack in the Box opened May 10, and plans call for additional stores in Oklahoma City and Moore. The company also has restaurants in Broken Arrow, Ardmore, Ada and Durant.
San Diego-based Jack in the Box Inc. bid Oklahoma farewell in 1982, according to company spokesman Brian Luscomb, and is now returning as the company broadens its scope across the nation. Last year, 64 Jack in the Box stores opened around the country, and 45 to 50 stores are set to open this year. The bulk of the chain's stores are in California and Texas. The company reports it has about 2,200 Jack in the Box stores in 18 states.
"We are expanding," Luscomb said.
In recent decades, anyone in Oklahoma with a taste for a Jumbo Jack had to travel across the Red River into North Texas. In the last few years, the closest Jack in the Box to the metro area was still at least an hour's drive away.
The Sooner State is in the chain's cross hairs after market research showed strong brand recognition in Oklahoma. Luscomb said while many here are familiar with the brand and perhaps remember eating at a Jack in the Box in the 1970s and 1980s, he could find no record of a previous Midwest City store. But that doesn't mean company officials think the name will be anything new to eastern Oklahoma County.
"There's strong brand awareness there," Luscomb said. "We consider a lot of demographic information pertaining to the local community, as well as growth trends, traffic patterns and proximity to other quick service restaurants."
Jack in the Box also operates Qdoba Mexican Grill, which has a store at Town Center. Luscomb said the two restaurants are handled separately and do not necessarily locate close to one another. As an example, he pointed out that San Diego has close to 100 Jack in the Box stores but not a single Qdoba.
The two restaurant concepts compete in different sectors of the food industry. Jack in the Box competes with restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King in the quick-serve category, while Qdoba competes in the fast casual category. Similar concepts to Qdoba, like Chipotle Mexican Grill, are located around the metro area.
The Midwest City Jack in the Box building will have about 3,200 square feet in the stand-alone location and employ a staff of between 40 and 50. Luscomb said hiring for that store will begin soon.
Jack in the Box is a publicly traded company and is listed on the Nasdaq under the symbol JACK.
J. Guy Henson, Midwest City city manager, said the restaurant chain's choice to open a store at Town Center is just further proof that national brands take the city more seriously than ever. Nevertheless, he admitted that without Town Center those brands likely would not be coming to town.
"Part of the reason we did what we did at Town Center was because there was always interest on the part of retailers to be in the marketplace, but they've all gotten into the niche of where they want to be," Henson said. "We didn't have a site that met their location requirements."
When planning began for Town Center in the past decade, city leaders knew that if they could lure successful large national brands and big box stores, others would follow. Henson said anchor stores set the tone for any large shopping center.
"If you're able to lure the anchor stores, it generates a higher level of interest, because they see there is a strong commitment on the part of those retailers," he said. "Jack in the Box's interest in the project is indicative of the success we've had."
Town Center is home to a mix of dining options. Customers can grab a quick bite at Chick-fil-A and Steak & Shake, or sit down at casual dining options like Old Chicago, Chili's Grill & Bar and Cheddar's Casual Cafe.
Looking ahead, and with limited space left, Henson said the city's focus is on eventually filling out the mix of restaurants at Town Center.
"We would like to be able to add at least one other nice 'sit down' restaurant," he said. "Those restaurants have had a lot of success."
photo Construction workers broke ground recently on a new Jack in the Box, which will be located in Midwest City on SE 29th Street.
After a long absence from the Oklahoma City metro area, Jack in the Box is returning with a store slated for Midwest City at Town Center Plaza. Work began recently on the site along SE 29th Street, and company officials expect the restaurant to be up and running by this fall. A Norman Jack in the Box opened May 10, and plans call for additional stores in Oklahoma City and Moore. The company also has restaurants in Broken Arrow, Ardmore, Ada and Durant.
San Diego-based Jack in the Box Inc. bid Oklahoma farewell in 1982, according to company spokesman Brian Luscomb, and is now returning as the company broadens its scope across the Jack is back.
After a long absence from the Oklahoma City metro area, Jack in the Box is returning with a store slated for Midwest City at Town Center Plaza. Work began recently on the site along SE 29th Street, and company officials expect the restaurant to be up and running by this fall. A Norman Jack in the Box opened May 10, and plans call for additional stores in Oklahoma City and Moore. The company also has restaurants in Broken Arrow, Ardmore, Ada and Durant.
San Diego-based Jack in the Box Inc. bid Oklahoma farewell in 1982, according to company spokesman Brian Luscomb, and is now returning as the company broadens its scope across the nation. Last year, 64 Jack in the Box stores opened around the country, and 45 to 50 stores are set to open this year. The bulk of the chain's stores are in California and Texas. The company reports it has about 2,200 Jack in the Box stores in 18 states.
"We are expanding," Luscomb said.
In recent decades, anyone in Oklahoma with a taste for a Jumbo Jack had to travel across the Red River into North Texas. In the last few years, the closest Jack in the Box to the metro area was still at least an hour's drive away.
The Sooner State is in the chain's cross hairs after market research showed strong brand recognition in Oklahoma. Luscomb said while many here are familiar with the brand and perhaps remember eating at a Jack in the Box in the 1970s and 1980s, he could find no record of a previous Midwest City store. But that doesn't mean company officials think the name will be anything new to eastern Oklahoma County.
"There's strong brand awareness there," Luscomb said. "We consider a lot of demographic information pertaining to the local community, as well as growth trends, traffic patterns and proximity to other quick service restaurants."
Jack in the Box also operates Qdoba Mexican Grill, which has a store at Town Center. Luscomb said the two restaurants are handled separately and do not necessarily locate close to one another. As an example, he pointed out that San Diego has close to 100 Jack in the Box stores but not a single Qdoba.
The two restaurant concepts compete in different sectors of the food industry. Jack in the Box competes with restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King in the quick-serve category, while Qdoba competes in the fast casual category. Similar concepts to Qdoba, like Chipotle Mexican Grill, are located around the metro area.
The Midwest City Jack in the Box building will have about 3,200 square feet in the stand-alone location and employ a staff of between 40 and 50. Luscomb said hiring for that store will begin soon.
Jack in the Box is a publicly traded company and is listed on the Nasdaq under the symbol JACK.
J. Guy Henson, Midwest City city manager, said the restaurant chain's choice to open a store at Town Center is just further proof that national brands take the city more seriously than ever. Nevertheless, he admitted that without Town Center those brands likely would not be coming to town.
"Part of the reason we did what we did at Town Center was because there was always interest on the part of retailers to be in the marketplace, but they've all gotten into the niche of where they want to be," Henson said. "We didn't have a site that met their location requirements."
When planning began for Town Center in the past decade, city leaders knew that if they could lure successful large national brands and big box stores, others would follow. Henson said anchor stores set the tone for any large shopping center.
"If you're able to lure the anchor stores, it generates a higher level of interest, because they see there is a strong commitment on the part of those retailers," he said. "Jack in the Box's interest in the project is indicative of the success we've had."
Town Center is home to a mix of dining options. Customers can grab a quick bite at Chick-fil-A and Steak & Shake, or sit down at casual dining options like Old Chicago, Chili's Grill & Bar and Cheddar's Casual Cafe.
Looking ahead, and with limited space left, Henson said the city's focus is on eventually filling out the mix of restaurants at Town Center.
"We would like to be able to add at least one other nice 'sit down' restaurant," he said. "Those restaurants have had a lot of success."
photo Construction workers broke ground recently on a new Jack in the Box, which will be located in Midwest City on SE 29th Street.
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