UAE-headquartered TIME Hotels Management has revealed a new addition to its rapidly-growing hospitality portfolio with the launch of its first non-hotel product, a sports-themed restaurant located in Fujairah Mall.
O’Learys was founded by Jonas Reinholdsson, a Swedish restaurateur. Mr Jonas Reinholdsson worked in the island of Nantucket south of Boston, Massachusetts in the mid 1980’s. He was inspired by the Bostonian restaurants where people came to watch games and to share the passion of sports. The food, the service, the interior design and the sports-theme created an atmosphere Mr. Reinholdsson brought with him back to Sweden where he founded the first O’Learys in 1988 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Named after his wife, Anne O’Leary, it was an immediate success, becoming a preferred casual dining venue for the community, visiting tourists and both local and international sports and entertainment celebrities.
The current tally of O’Learys’ restaurants now numbers 100 outlets in ten countries spread across Asia, Europe and now the Middle East, with a 2014 global turnover of €163 million.
O’Learys is primarily located on the public market; high street locations and shopping malls. Since 2004 O’Learys has been a well-known concept in travel locations, and has an outlet situated in Abu Dhabi Airport.
“The Middle East is a prime target market for O’Learys, and with a proven concept and multi-segment consumer appeal we have selected Fujairah Mall for our first outlet,” said Mohammad Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels Management
“We see further opportunities to place O’Learys in key high traffic, high value locations across the UAE,” he added.
Scheduled to open in Q4 2015, the 275-square metre, 163-cover restaurant will also be linked to an indoor karting area and laser shooting gallery covering some 2,240-square metres, making it a suitable venue for dining families as well as sports fans.
A broadly appealing menu of classic burgers, signature buffalo wings, cheesy quesadillas, ribs, nachos and desserts will complemented by an extensive collection of non-alcoholic cocktails and soft beverages.
The L-shaped restaurant features a collection of seating arrangements including classic banquettes and round tables, ‘shoeshiner’ rows, counter seats and a lounge area with a choice of prime television monitor views or overlooking the karting track.
The interior design is based on a rich combination of deep green, burgundy red and dark brown colours used across the floor coverings, wall finishes and plush furnishings, which include custom-made seating. Walls are covered with a wide selection of sporting and Boston-themed memorabilia, 47-inch television monitors line the venue with cosy lighting used to create an intimate yet inclusive ambience.