“We are new so we were already ahead of the curve,” Gehl said.
His location will add several new items Tuesday, including a new BJ’s Brewhouse Burger, potato skins and loaded baked potatoes featuring either chili, vegetables or grilled chicken.
Some of the new loaded potatoes will include Alfredo sauce.
Gehl said the Huntington Beach, Calif.-based restaurant chain’s decision to reduce its menu is partly about offering improved service. His location has 130 items, including the popular New Orleans Jambalaya and Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast.
“It is really to make sure we focus on the most popular dishes,” he said.
Nationally, there will be 50 changes to the restaurant’s prep system to improve speed and quality as well as 24 fewer items on the menu.
Trojan told conference call attendees there will be more below $10 menu items, smaller portion and lower calorie dishes and “bolder, more on trend flavors.”
The casual-dining chain’s opened six new locations, including the Austin Landing store in the third quarter ended Oct. 1, according to a news release.
BJ’s operates more than 130 restaurants nationwide, including one at the Tri-County Mall in Cincinnati and two in the Columbus area.
BJ’s same-store sales decreased 2.2 percent. It marked the first negative quarter since 2009.
“Our new restaurants continue to perform very strongly and BJ’s continues to rank among the leaders in casual dining with average unit volumes of approximately $5.8 million,” said Trojan. “We are looking forward to nearly doubling the size of BJ’s during the next five years. With only 143 restaurants opened in 15 states, the majority of our growth remains well ahead of us.”
Trojan said the slimmed down menu will allow restaurants to serve more guests and do it quicker.
“We know there is opportunity for BJ’s to be even better,” Trojan said.
Contact this columnist at arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com or Twitter.com/DDNSmartMouth
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