The duo franchise of Fatburger and Ricky’s All Day Grill is now open in Whitecourt

The door at the entrance to Fatburger and Ricky’s All Day Grill at 3732 Kepler
Street is now open to the public. The duo franchise that sees two brands under
one roof had its official ribbon cutting on Thursday, November 30, with doors
opening for the public on Friday, December 1. Upon entering the main door,
visitors can either enter Ricky’s door on the left or walk straight through the door
to Fatburger, and both are open to each other on the inside. There is also a drive-
thru for Fatburger on the building’s left side.
Vijay Kumar and Maitri Patel are the owner-operators at the helm of the
restaurants and are excited to get locals and highway visitors in the door. “The
Whitecourt community and visitors alike will have two great meal options to
choose from, including enjoying a hearty breakfast with family, having a great
Fatburger for lunch, dinner, or watching the game at Happy Hour,” said Kumar.
Patel said both brands focus on family and quality, adding, “it’s sure to be a hit
with everyone, young and old.” Kumar and Patel moved to Whitecourt to take on
the new business, and both said they are looking forward to becoming part of the
community.
Stacey Hansson, Senior Vice President of Corporate Services and Franchise
Relations for FTF Brandz, said selecting Whitecourt was a decision that came from
the top. “Our CEO works with a brokerage firm, and they found this site. We
always look for good locations in small towns, especially high-traffic areas. Our
CEO determined it was a good location after doing all the research and ensuring it
fit our demographic.”
Raymond Ho, Vice President, Marketing and Communications for FTF Brandz,
explained that the idea to create dual franchise locations popped up during
COVID, when pick-up and take-out grew in popularity. He said people’s habits for
when and how they eat have changed, leading to a Dual-Branded Single Facility
Concept where two brands share the square footage that typically one stand-
alone brand would use. Whitecourt’s location is the fourth of its kind, featuring
Fatburger and Ricky’s. Ho added that their dual restaurants have been exceeding
expectations.

John Grieve, VP of Fatburger Canada, said the combination concept merges the
popular parts from each of the stand-alone stores and that together, it creates a
warm, welcoming vibe. “When customers walk in, they’re going to get a warm
feeling and feel invited in with modern, warm décor, and they’ll see the energy of
our crew. People have fun when they come in.”
For Ho, the legacy behind both businesses is what sets them apart. “Both of them
have a long history and legacy of doing business. Fatburger started in LA in 1952.
It’s all about the big juicy burgers. I think this is going to be perfect for a lot of
people here. Ricky’s has been around since 1962 and is a staple for many
generations in the communities they are in. Grandparents have gone with their
kids and grandkids.”
The backbone of Ricky’s All Day Grill is the hearty breakfast and lunch options, all
homecooked and fresh. “We love to see our brands grow, but we also love
bringing our brands and our food to the community because we reach so many
people, especially with the combinations where we can do a dual-branded store.
We reach far more demographics that way. These brands are all about families
who love to come and have a great time. It’s about stick-to-your-ribs food,
delicious breakfasts, and turkey dinners. We are making lots of comfort food
here,” smiled Hansson.
On Thursday morning, less than 24 hours from opening day, a customer pulled in
off the highway to see if Fatburger was open. To his dismay, he was a tad early,
but he was also in luck. “He was on his way to Fort St. John and said he was really
craving Fatburger, so we made him two burgers. The fact that we get to make
products for the people in the area feels good,” said Grieve. “Our product is fresh.
The beef is never frozen, and we grill every burger fresh for the order, so it
doesn’t sit in the holder. You get that flavourful, juicy burger every time.
Whenever we talk about burgers, I’ll start to salivate a little bit because I love
burgers a little too much sometimes,” he laughed.
One of the biggest things on the Fatburger menu is called the Triple King, an
enormous one-and-a-half pounds of beef. “It’s an incredible burger,” said Grieve.
He added that they have burgers of all sizes, from small up to massive. They also
have a veggie burger that comes with all the fixings. “There’s passion behind the
quality of the food here.”

Project Whitecourt, as Ho called it, had been in the works for quite some time,
and every player at the table was happy to see the doors finally open. “We are
excited and are pretty confident that this is going to do well,” he said. “If you love
yourself a big, juicy burger, come on in and give Fatburger a try. We also have
great hearty breakfasts you can enjoy daily at Ricky’s. Come on in and say hello!
Our owners, Vijay, and Maitri, can’t wait to see you.”