Friendly, All-American Restaurant Claims New Territory
Large volume restaurant Claim Jumper is steadily expanding.
Susan H. Fishman

The exterior of Claim Jumper’s location at South Coast Plaza in Orange County, California.

Celebrating the start of its 30th anniversary, Claim Jumper is known for its large volumes, friendly atmosphere and high standards. Founder Craig Nickoloff opened the original Claim Jumper, a barbecue-style restaurant, in Los Alamitos, California, in 1977. The company, based in Irvine, California, was purchased by Leonard Green, a venture capital group from Santa Monica, California, in October 2005 and, today, there are more than 40 locations throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada and Washington, with four more planned for 2007.

“With 19 restaurants, we felt like we knew the west coast and that it was time to diversify,” notes President and CEO Robert Ott, who envisions a nationwide concept one day.

Today’s Claim Jumper is a family-friendly restaurant with an extensive menu. The first out-of-California store was in Colorado, and slowly the chain added more and more states. By the end of 2008, Claim Jumper will be in nine states.

To date, most Claim Jumper locations are in a suburban environment in lifestyle centers, as well as traditional malls.

Claim Jumper will be located in nine states by the end of 2008.

“A couple of our stores are in an urban mall setting, and they do well,” says Ott. “We have a store in a lifestyle center in Redmond, but we also have an in-line store in South Coast Plaza that does great, also.”

The new stores are doing well, indeed. According to Ott, Claim Jumper’s average unit volume in the last 15 stores has been more than $8 million per store. Some of the newest locations include Poplar Creek Crossing in Hoffman Estates, Illinois; Pacific Commons in Fremont, California; and a brand new center under construction in Avondale, Arizona.

The design of the restaurant has evolved over the years from a bit of a Western motif to more of a California-lodge look, with more honey blonde timber and a lot of glass.

“There’s a little bit of California Craftsman/Frank Lloyd Wright style to the restaurant, reminiscent of the great lodges of the Northwest,” explains Ott.

Claim Jumper stores come in many sizes, but in the last couple of years, the company has shifted from a 13,500-square-foot prototype to an 11,900-square-foot prototype and is now building two stores in the 10,000-square-foot range, which is the wave of the future, says Ott.

“We have the option of doing smaller stores than that, but we need about 10,000 square feet to meet our top-line sales.”

Inside Claim Jumper’s unit at South Coast Plaza.

Today, the interior could be described as warm and comfortable, with huge Douglas Fir logs, natural rock, corrugated and pressed tin, natural and finished woods and large fireplaces. The lobbies, dining rooms and saloons showcase rich fabrics, authentic log chairs and colorful tiffany lamps. Many locations feature an open display kitchen where guests can watch as their soups, salads and desserts are prepared, as well as pizzas in an authentic wood-burning oven.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, Claim Jumper offers an eclectic menu, including USDA Prime and Choice steaks, fresh fish, rotisserie chicken, baby back pork ribs, fresh baked pot pies, specialty salads, wood-fired pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, burgers and more. Claim Jumper’s baked goods and desserts including the Six-Layer Chocolate Motherlode Cake, Bread Pudding, Scratch Carrot Cake, Lemon Bar Brule and five flavors of deliciously rich cream cheese pie. The restaurant also has a comfortable saloon, which features signature cocktails, chilled martinis, premium and ultra premium spirits, specialty non-alcoholic beverages, an extensive wine list, and imported and American craft beers including Claim Jumper’s own Honey Blonde, Original Red Ale and Hefeweizen.

A popular dining choice for families, Claim Jumper tends to run fairly long wait times on the weekends and in the evenings, which is part of the appeal for shopping center owners, says Ott.

“We’re a good fit for other retail shops because people tend to take a walk and shop or browse before they come in to eat. So it’s a good partnership that allows us to have some retail for our customers to go and visit while they’re waiting.”

Claim Jumper’s beautiful building is another reason retailers and developers might want the restaurant for a co-tenant.

“We’re a good addition to any retail site when you look at the style of building and the sheer beauty of the exterior,” says Ott. “It adds to almost any retail group.”


©2007 France Publications, Inc. Duplication or reproduction of this article not permitted without authorization from France Publications, Inc. For information on reprints of this article contact Barbara Sherer at (630) 554-6054.