Newriders Inc. Retains the Hatch Design Group and
Respected Chef and Restaurateur David Wilhelm to
Develop Easyriders Prototype
Business Wire - November 14, 1997 08:31
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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 1997--
Company Also Says That John Martin's Role as Newriders' Chairman Unchanged By His
Investments in Pacific Restaurant Adventures
Newriders Inc. (NASDAQ:NWRD), owners and operators of Easyriders Cafes, announced today
that it has retained the nationally respected Hatch Design Group and well-known chef and
restaurateur David Wilhelm to oversee the conceptualization and creative design of future
Easyriders Cafes.
"We see tremendous opportunities to create a totally new concept for Easyriders Cafes, one that
represents a celebration of motorcycling as an experience and showcases the building and
customization of American motorcycles as the art form that it is," said John Martin, chairman of
Newriders.
"The Hatch Design Group and David Wilhelm are among the best in the business at
understanding the intrinsic attributes of a concept like Easyriders and bringing them to life in
dramatic, and incredibly appealing ways. We are very fortunate to have both of them working on
this exciting project."
Martin said that the Hatch Design Group and Wilhelm will be responsible for helping Newriders
develop a "prototype cafe" for Easyriders, which the company hopes to later roll-out with a number
of variations on the theme as the company expands into new markets.
Although specifics of the prototype won't be revealed until later, Wilhelm said that it will have a
comfortable, roadhouse feel, with familiar foods like barbecue sandwiches, smoked meats,
chicken, fish and ribs. "It'll be a great place to grab a quick bite or hang out for hours," Wilhelm
said.
Wilhelm is widely regarded as one of the field's most accomplished chefs and creative
restaurateurs. He helped found such well known and popular Southern California restaurant
locations as Chimayo Grill, Diva, Bistro 201, Topaz, Kachina and Sorrento Grill.
The Hatch Design Group has equally impressive credentials. The firm has provided trend-setting
designs for restaurants all across the nation, including The Disney Studio Commissary in
Burbank, Emporio Armani in San Francisco, Planet Hollywood in Costa Mesa, 5-7-5 in Boston,
and the Water Grill in Los Angeles.
In a separate announcement, Newriders issued the following statement today in response to
investor questions that surfaced following an announcement Wednesday that Newriders'
chairman, John Martin, would be serving as chairman of newly formed Pacific Restaurant
Adventures, a casual dining entity in Southern California:
"John Martin is, and will continue to be very active as chairman of Newriders. At the same time,
he is an active investor in several business interests, some of which will have ties to Newriders
and some that will not.
"He has stated, however, that he intends to limit his involvement to businesses which in his view
are or can become synergistic, or share resources, as Newriders and Pacific Restaurant
Adventures are now doing in working with restaurateur David Wilhelm and the Hatch Design
Group.
"Newriders and Martin see no conflict with him assuming the role of chairman of some of these
businesses. In fact, the company sees and values the synergies that may come from some of
these activities.
"Martin, in addition to his duties with Newriders and Pacific Restaurant Adventures, is also a
member of the Board of Directors of Williams-Sonoma Inc., The Good Guys, the Franchise
Mortgage Assistance Corporattion and Chevy's Restaurants."
CONTACT: Newriders Inc.
Bill Nordstrom, 714/718-4630 |
