KISS frontman and self made business mogul Gene Simmons will be a keynote speaker at MUFSO in Dallas, Texas this year. In the run-up to the conference, the KISS co-founder and partner in the casual dining chain Rock & Brews discussed the nature of eating out, the importance of guitars in pop culture, the roots of American greatness and the usefulness of conferences such as MUFSO with Bret Thorn, senior food editor at Nation's Restaurant News. 

Recognized as a 2015 "Break Out Brand" by Restaurant News earlier this year, and recognized as #7 of the "Future 50: The Fastest Growing Small Chains in America" in Restaurant Business Magazine this month, Rock & Brews, co-founded by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, is tapping the franchise community to support its "world tour" expansion plans.

Rock & Brews CEO Mike Reynolds (a 30-year restaurant industry/franchising veteran) recently announced that the company will experience a more than 45 percent growth by year end, and double its revenue by mid-2016. The brand has secured four new multi-unit franchisee partners to develop large territories in the United States, and letters of intent have been signed with partners for expansion into Canada and Australia. By the end of the year, Rock & Brews will grow from 11 highly successful locations in the United States and Mexico to 16, with several others in various stages of development.

"We have built a solid foundation for our continued growth and with our existing multi-unit franchise partners and others who have the credentials and experience necessary, we are poised for rapid expansion into new areas in the United States and beyond," said Reynolds. "We attribute our success to the uniqueness of our family-friendly and dog friendly concept that has the ability to adapt to nearly any location."

Rock & Brews has three distinct design concepts to date - free standing restaurants, airport restaurants and a stadium/arena concept.

The company has established a new world headquarters in Manhattan Beach, Calif. and, has numerous commitments for both debt and equity financing. With this growth capital there are plans for more company owned stores in addition to franchise opportunities.

By most standards, Rock & Brews would be considered a toddler in the restaurant world, having opened its first restaurant just three years ago. However, the brand's unique, family-friendly dining, tremendous craft beer selection, hand crafted American food offerings and entertainment formula has attracted a significant amount of industry attention, beginning with snatching the cover of Franchise Times in May 2012. In addition to recent nods from Restaurant News and Restaurant Business Magazines, Rock & Brews is standing out at major industry shows. Simmons served as the Keynote speaker at the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference in Las Vegas in 2014, and this September, he will serve as the keynote speaker at the MUSFO (Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators) conference in September in Dallas.

Rock & Brews is a one-of-a-kind, rock-inspired restaurant and entertainment concept designed to engage people of all ages with quality comfort food and local favorites, a broad selection of craft and international beers, and an energized environment that is reminiscent of being at a family-friendly music event. Founded by rock icons Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, along with partners, restaurateur Michael Zislis and concert industry veterans Dave and Dell Furano, the first Rock & Brews opened near LAX in the beach community of El Segundo, California in April of 2012. Each location boasts a backstage environment showcasing a "Great Wall of Rock," iconic rock art, concert trusses and lighting and multiple flat screens sharing some of the greatest rock concert moments of all time. Most offer a play area for kids and many are dog friendly. For more information, visit rockandbrews.com.