Ruggles Green Announces Expansion New Locations in the Heights and Sugar Land Opening in 2012
Green Café Management and GJR Partners are pleased to announce plans to open a third and fourth Ruggles Green restaurant in the Greater Houston area during the next six months. The first location will be in the Heights and is scheduled to open in early May. A substantial renovation of the old 11th Street Café will begin in January. The focus is to maintain the charm of the historical old building, modernize the interior, while bringing it up to Ruggles Green standards for Green Certification. In addition, emphasis will be placed on delivering high-quality local and organic food as well as excellent service, all of which Ruggles Green customers have grown to expect. The second restaurant is being constructed in Sugar Land and is scheduled to open in early July. Located in Sugar Land’s Town Square, this location will have an expansive patio designed to be family friendly. Other amenities include a private room for special events, easily accessible parking, and reserved spaces for take-out orders.
“We are extremely pleased with the progress we have made since opening our first location in River Oaks”, said Federico Marques, VP/Marketing and Co-Founder of Ruggles Green. “Our CityCentre location is the only 4-Star Certified Green Restaurant® in Texas and one of the greenest restaurants in the world. Our Sugar Land location will be 4-Star certified and will uphold the quality of food and customer experience we are known for. Our goal is to expand our children’s healthy, organic, and gluten-free menu options and to continuously improve our sustainability model. It is very gratifying to see the positive response to our Ruggles Green vision, which has allowed us to push forward with two new locations.”
Robert Guillerman, VP/Operations and Co-Founder of Ruggles Green, states, “Our customers have expectations of high-quality food, at an affordable price, with excellent service. Our confidence lies in our employees and in the experience we have gained over the last three years. We look forward to serving more neighborhoods in the Greater Houston area as well as becoming a valued part of those communities. We realize that every customer has unique needs and we work hard to ensure we live up to, and hopefully exceed, their expectations”. Jennifer McGehee, VP GJR Partnership, commented, “Our affiliation with Green Café Management was formed to provide the financial support they needed to expand the Ruggles Green franchise. We are pleased to be associated with our Ruggles Green partners and to support their vision and leadership in the green restaurant movement. Moreover, we look forward to providing the capital and support for the new Heights and Sugar Land locations.”
Ruggles Green is a Certified Green Restaurant, and conforms to guidelines set by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA). “Ruggles Green has completed an incredible number of steps toward becoming more environmentally sustainable,” says Jennifer Fleck, Communications Manager for the GRA. “Ruggles Green is not only the greenest restaurant in Texas, but one of the greenest in the world. They have set a wonderful example for the industry, and we look forward to going even further with them in the future.”
About Ruggles Green
Formed in 2008, Ruggles Green is Houston’s first Certified Green Restaurant. In 2011, Ruggles Green at CityCentre also became the first 4-Star Certified Green Restaurant in Texas, the Green Restaurant Association’s highest level of certification. Ruggles Green was launched with the goal of providing local, organic, and gluten free options to customers via a premium fast casual restaurant. The vision of the founders was to lead the industry in sustainability, while still offering healthy and great tasting food. Federico Marques and Robert Guillerman are cofounders and are responsible for the operations of the business. Ruggles Green stores conform to guidelines set by the Green Restaurant Association. Guidelines include energy conservation, water conservation, extensive recycling, composting, use of sustainable materials, public education and outreach, and use of local, organic, and vegetarian menu items. Green Café Management owns Ruggles Green. For more information, visit www.rugglesgreen.com.
About GJR Partnership
The GJR partnership was formed by a group of Houston and Calgary-based investors to provide the financial and general management to support the Ruggles Green expansion in Houston. The partnership has a management and license agreement with Green Café Management for the rights to own multiple Ruggles Green Restaurants and for Green Café Management to provide the in-store operations. Jennifer McGehee is a VP and partner of GJR Partnership and is GJR’s Houston-based operations and marketing executive.
About the Green Restaurant Association
The Green Restaurant Association℠ (GRA), a national non-profit organization, helps the restaurant industry improve its environmental practices through research, environmental consulting, education, and certification. Founded in 1990, long before green was cool; the GRA utilizes a collaborative strategy that involves restaurants, manufacturers, vendors, community organizations, government, media, and restaurant customers. For more information visit www.dinegreen.com.
