Retail And Real Estate Johnny Rockets Set To Blast Off In Las Vegas

In Business Las Vegas:

In a city that is constantly reinventing itself, a restaurant that prides itself on its retro image hopes to make the scene in a big way.

From the jukeboxes, to the one-page menu, to the servers who are apt to spring from behind the counter at any time and cut a rug, everything about Johnny Rockets harkens back to what many consider a simpler time.

‘That’s the whole idea,’ local franchisee Frank Bonanno said. ‘The company likes to call it a diner look, but we think of it more as a malt shop.’

No matter what it’s called, the concept is definitely designed to let people come in, relax for a little while and be entertained.

The food is pretty standard fare - burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and the like - but it’s the little extras that set Johnny Rockets apart.

Servers in white paper hats and matching aprons greet customers with a smile and a nickel to put in the counter jukeboxes, which are filled with classics.

Most of the songs are from the ’50s and ’60s, but there are some newer tunes with a similar theme. Jimmy Buffett’s ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise,’ seems especially appropriate for a burger joint located at the food court inside the Venetian, where the newest Johnny Rockets is located.

The servers try to dance a choreographed routine every half hour, except at peak meal times when customer volume can make that pretty tough to do. More.