Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc. Celebrates Milestone 100th Restaurant

Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc., a powerhouse in casual dining concepts, announces the grand opening of its 100th Restaurant with a new Old Chicago location in St. Cloud, MN, at 4040 Second Street.

Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc. is forging the path of success in casual dining through an innovative growth strategy that teams together its Franchising and corporate expansion efforts. Plans call for more than 100 new Old Chicago restaurants and 10 new Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery locations in the United States by 2008.

"Despite a tough economy and an even tougher market for most restaurant companies, we have continued to prove that Rock Bottom is among the leading restaurant companies, providing superior financial results for its investors through a broad platform of dynamic brands, strategically focused management and a passionate workforce," said Ned Lidvall, Chief Executive Officer.

"We're in a business that is all about people, and we believe that there is a greater purpose than simply running great restaurants. As we continue to grow and prosper, this is something we believe we should never lose sight of."

Old Chicago, the 28-year-old restaurant concept of Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc., specializing in imported beer and deep-dish pizza, officially opens its doors to St. Could residents at 11 AM on March 15, 2004. Attending the landmark opening ceremony will be Buck Warfield, senior vice president of development for Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc., and Tom Lund, vice president for Franchise operations for Old Chicago.

"We are excited to share the landmark 100th store opening for Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc. with the community of St. Cloud," said Joe Cody, franchise operator for the St. Cloud Old Chicago location. "We look forward to bringing restaurant goers a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, delicious food, and outstanding service that are synonymous with the Old Chicago brand."

Cody and his partners are multi-unit/multi-concept franchisees, who currently operate three Old Chicago locations in Fargo, ND, Sioux Falls, SD, and Tampa, FL. During the next five years, Cody and his partners plan to open 11 new Old Chicago locations throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa.

While Old Chicago is known for its deep-dish pizza, it is equally renowned for its outstanding beverage options, which make up more than 37 percent of sales nationwide, according to Buck Warfield, senior vice president of development for Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc. Old Chicago's World Beer Tour, which offers 110 varieties of beer to accommodate even the most discriminating beer connoisseur, is a club that boasts more than 450,000 card-carrying members. Club members are not only treated to the best beers from around the globe, but are able to win great prizes as they complete the Tour.

Based in Louisville, CO, Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc. owns and operates 88 restaurants throughout the United States - 54 "Old Chicago" restaurants and 34 brewery restaurants operating under the names "Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery," "ChopHouse & Brewery" and "Walnut Brewery." The company also owns and operates SingSing, a dueling piano bar concept with three locations.

Since its privatization in August 1999, 27 new restaurants have been added and average annual sales are approximately $251 million. The company also recently entered into a partnership with Rockies Brewing Company, Colorado's first microbrewery, and began franchising its Old Chicago concept and it now has nine open franchise locations and agreements representing 70 new locations in 13 states.

All of Rock Bottom's restaurants are casual dining establishments featuring excellent customer service, high-quality, moderately priced food and a distinctive selection of craft brewed and specialty beers served in a comfortable, hospitable atmosphere.