Restaurant operator IRSI adding 2 more eateries to chain
Puerto Rico’s second P.F. Chang’s restaurant will open this year in Ponce.
International Restaurant Services Inc. will be expanding its presence in Puerto Rico this year with the addition of two new restaurants — a Chili’s Grill & Bar in Bayamón and a P.F. Chang’s in Ponce — pushing the number of establishments in its chain to 30, company officials said Tuesday.
“Our growth plans never stop. We have more than 20 years of experience in the local ‘casual dining’ industry and we’re ready to continue gaining strength every day,” said Artur Jotic, president of IRSI.
“Consumers love our concepts not only for the food, but because they offer a culinary experience, and we see that reflected every day in our customers who tell us they are are grateful for the experience,” Jotic said. “Last year we opened new restaurants, this year we continue with new openings and will continue to grow next year.”
The 6,000 square-foot Chili’s restaurant in Bayamón will be IRSI’s 19th in Puerto Rico, with the capacity to sit 220 people. Construction will begin in March, with a target opening scheduled during the latter half of the year. The restaurant to be located in Plaza Río Hondo will create 160 jobs.
Meanwhile, the second P.F. Chang’s location will open during the first half of this year in Plaza del Caribe in Ponce, where another IRSI franchise — Romano’s Macaroni Grill — is also under construction. With the restaurants, IRSI expects to add 220 additional new jobs and round out its footprint to 30 restaurants islandwide.
Last year, IRSI opened two Macaroni Grill restaurants in Bayamón and Mayagüez, creating a combined 360 jbos, the company said.
