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| The
first L&L in Honolulu circa 1976. |
In
1976 Johnson Kam and Eddie Flores, Jr., both budding entrepreneurs,
purchased the L&L Drive-Inn
on Liliha Street in Honolulu, Hawaii. Times were tough during
the early years but Kam and Flores persevered with their
work ethic
and optimism.
The founders of the L&L Drive-Inn decided to franchise and
expand their operation in 1988. They were among the first to build
a reputation of serving fresh plate lunches, in generous portions,
and low prices across Hawaii with their very successful chain of
L&L Drive-Inn restaurants.
 |
Hawaii
Business magazine cover (July 2004). |
In late 1999,
Kam and Flores introduced their L&L brand of
plate lunches to the mainland in California. Anticipating the unfamiliarity
of the plate lunch to the mainland, Flores brilliantly repackaged
it as “L&L Hawaiian Barbecue”. Why Hawaiian Barbecue?
Flores explains, “When we went to the mainland, the name ‘Hawaiian’ is
a draw, because everyone just fantasized, everyone
wants to come to Hawaii”.
To understand
the menu definition of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue,
one must look back to its predecessor of Hawaiian Barbecue – the
Hawaiian plate lunch. The traditional Hawaiian plate lunch consists
of two servings of rice, a serving of macaroni salad, and features
a generous serving of a hot entrée (a smaller “mini” version
of the traditional plate lunch consists of one serving of rice,
a serving of macaroni salad, and a small serving of a hot entrée).
L&L’s Hawaiian Barbecue’s unique meal
composition and signature brand of Asian and American
fusion cuisine
has helped it to stand out from the others.
The L&L Hawaiian Barbecue concept has spread like wild
fire. Today there are over 200 L&L restaurants in Hawaii,
California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon,
Texas, Utah, and New York.
The owners attribute their success to a decentralized system of
ownership through franchises in which each restaurant is a separately
incorporated profit center run by partners in the corporation or
individual owners. Their success is furthermore enhanced by immersing
customers with the Aloha spirit through their brightly colored
interiors with scenic views of Hawaii and warm hospitality.
|
·
Hawaii's Best - Star Bulletin (2005)
· 'Ilima Award - Hawaii's Best Plate Lunch (2005) |
|
L&L’s Hawaiian
Barbecue concept success has earned the companycontinued rankings
in various national magazines. In 2002,
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue was named one of the “50
Regional Powerhouse Chains” by Nation’s
Restaurant News. The July 2005 issue of Restaurant & Institutions
Magazine ranked L&L 314 out of America’s
top 400 restaurant chains. Additionally, Restaurant
Business magazine ranked L&L #15 of its 50 Top
Growth Chains in the Nation in 2005. Entrepreneur magazine
has also ranked
L&L’s parent company, L&L Franchise,
Inc. at #165 out of the top 500 franchises in 2005.
L&L’s strong Hawaii roots provides the company the clout
in being able to give customers an authentic Hawaiian taste and
an authentic experience. And at the pace of growth of the franchise
and the level of attention the company continues to receive, L&L
has become the biggest thing to come out of Hawaii since surfing! |
