It's part of an agreement between Moore of Memphis-based Lenny's Franchisor, LLC and his long-time friend Tom Clatterbuck of Houston-based Restaurant Consultants expected to generate $600 million for the Lenny's Sub Shops system.

It also will mark a significant expansion for Lenny's Sub Shops in the Southwest. The chain's stores are currently concentrated in the Southeast, and include locations in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Georgia.

The 80 new stores will be developed in Texas' Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties.

Moore and his wife Sheila opened the first Lenny's Sub Shop in Bartlett in 1998. Since then the company has spread like wildfire, making the move to franchising in 2001. The company currently has 63 franchise restaurants, with more than 300 franchises in nine states on the way.

Moore now lives in the Houston area, has ownership of restaurants in several states and recently opened a Lenny's Sub Shop in Woodlands, Texas. During his long career in the restaurant industry, he held management positions with a number of companies including Chick-Fil-A, TGI Friday's, Olive Garden and Ruby Tuesday's.

Clatterbuck, who operates Lenny's Sub Shops in Nashville and near Huntsville, Alabama, is relocating to Houston to take part in the aggressive expansion there. He has more than 30 years of experience in the food service industry, including management positions at TGI Friday's, Applebee's, Chick-Fil-A and Wendy's.

Lenny's Franchisor is on track to open between 400 and 500 restaurants by 2008. Today's announcement is the second major agreement in the last month. Lenny's Franchisor announced an agreement with Dynamic Growth Partners of Boca Raton, Florida to develop 125 restaurants in Florida.

It's the second major expansion of Lenny's in two days. The company announced on Wednesday plans for 22 new franchise stores in Little Rock, Birmingham and Jonesboro.

Source: Memphis Business Journals