Get Your Kicks! Johnny Rockets Kicks Off Summer With the Original Road Trip and a Chance to Win a Classic Car

    ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--June 21, 2001--Johnny Rockets, the All-American hometown hamburger and malt shop, cruises into summer and celebrates its newly enhanced menu with The Johnny Rockets Original Road Trip and the Johnny Rockets Original Road Trip Memories Contest.
    The road trip, a 66-day trek across the highways and byways of America, includes part of historic Route 66 and features a classic 1957 Chevy Bel Air, which consumers will have a chance to win as part of the national contest. The contest -- a national search for the most memorable road trip experiences -- asks consumers to describe their favorite nostalgic road trip in 500 words or less, and consumers may enter at participating Johnny Rockets locations or via www.johnnyrockets.com.
    "At Johnny Rockets, we've got a lot to celebrate!" said Michael Shumsky, chairman and chief executive officer of the Johnny Rockets Group Inc. "We're marking the official start of `the good old days' of summer, our 15th anniversary and our newly enhanced menu, which includes the Route 66 hamburger -- a delicious tribute to the famous highway that embodies a nostalgic experience similar to that of Johnny Rockets nationwide."
    Throughout the summer, during the cross-country journey, Johnny Rockets is also hosting a series of celebrations at designated "rest stops" -- Johnny Rockets restaurants in cities along or near Route 66. Consumers will have an opportunity to enter the contest, sample the newly enhanced menu items and see the classic 1957 Chevy Bel Air at the following events:

June 21    Santa Monica, Calif.
June 26    San Francisco
July 10    Phoenix
July 17    Dallas
July 24    Atlanta
July 31    Chicago
August 7   Columbus, Ohio
August 14  Washington, D.C.
August 24  New York City

    "We've coordinated the rest stop events to give our guests around the country an opportunity to experience the great food and fun of Johnny Rockets, and tell us about their very own road trip memories by entering the contest," said Shumsky.
    In addition to the Route 66 hamburger, Johnny Rockets has also created the Smokehouse hamburger and is offering a lean ground turkey patty option with all hamburgers. The enhanced menu will also include Chicken Tenders, a Chicken Club Salad, Nathan's Famous(R) Hot Dogs, Deluxe Shakes and more! Johnny Rockets continues to offer its classic hamburgers, American fries, hand-dipped shakes and malts, sandwiches and apple pie with no increase in prices.
    Since the first Johnny Rockets restaurant opened its doors in 1986 on trendy Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, the company has grown to 142 corporate and franchised restaurants in 25 states. Johnny Rockets' expansion also extends to nine countries around the world and aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas.
    To learn more about Johnny Rockets Original Road Trip Memories Contest, review the Official Rules or to find the nearest Johnny Rockets restaurant, visit http://www.johnnyrockets.com. The Johnny Rockets Original Road Trip Memories contest ends August 31, 2001.