Johnny Carino's Signs South Florida Development Agreement

Fired Up Inc. has signed an agreement for the development of Johnny Carino's Country Italian Restaurants in South Florida.

Dining Concepts LLC will develop franchised Johnny Carino's in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach markets. Robert Barany is the operating principal and vice president of Dining Concepts LLC which recently signed a major agreement to Franchise Johnny Carino's in Venezuela and Aruba. Robert was previously general director and partner of the Chili's Grill and Bar franchisee for Venezuela.

"Robert has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Carino's concept both domestically and internationally," says Norman Abdallah, Co-CEO and president of Fired Up Inc. "He is an energetic and passionate businessman and restaurateur. Robert will be a major influence in the future expansion of Carino's."

"We're very excited and proud to be a part of the Carino's family," says Daniel Sarshalom, COO and principal of Dining Concepts LLC. "The concept's strengths are the management team, the food and the culture."

"We are looking forward to entering the Miami/West Palm Beach markets with a proven franchise Partner like Robert," adds Abdallah. "With the signing of this agreement and discussions with future Partners, we are on track to have agreements for 300 Johnny Carino's units in place in the next 12 months. Additionally, Fired Up and our Partners will jointly open 22 units next year." In the last 45 days, Fired Up has opened three company owned Johnny Carino's in Grand Prairie, San Antonio and Austin, Texas and franchised units in Bahrain, Kuwait and Amarillo, Texas.

Fired Up Inc. was founded in 1997 by Creed Ford and Norman Abdallah. They currently operate and franchise 33 Johnny Carino's Country Italian, 1 Johnny Carino's Pizzeria, 2 Gumbo's Louisiana Style Cafe and The Brown Bar domestically in 15 states and internationally in 12 countries.