Arkansas Entrepreneurs to Open Captain D's Seafood Restaurant in Van Buren; More Planned for Northwest Ark.

Jason Cox and Bob Johnston, principals of J/ARK Enterprises, LLC, located here, will open a Captain D's, a pioneer in quick casual seafood dining, in Van Buren by the end of 2006, and are looking to develop three to five more restaurants on the northwest side of the state. Van Buren is located about eight miles from Ft. Smith.

Mike Pearce, vice president of franchise development for Captain D's, headquartered in Nashville, announced the agreement with J/ARK Enterprises.

Cox, an employee of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Arkansas and a licensed realtor, comes from a family that has owned and operated convenience and grocery stores in Missouri. Johnston is a veteran quick service fast food operator with experience in running KFC and a chain of Mexican food units.

According to Pearce, the Arkansas opening will help Captain D's remain on course for another record setting year for the 35-year-old seafood restaurant organization. In 2005, the company opened 20 restaurants and another 40 openings are planned for 2006.

Captain D's offers a menu of seafood featuring its signature dish of hand cut and hand battered fish, along with baked or broiled fish, shrimp, chicken and home-style side dishes, and desserts.

There are nearly 600 Captain D's Restaurants in 25 United States and military bases in the United States and overseas. Captain D's first international franchise in Trinidad opened late last year. Earlier this year, the parent company for Captain D's, Sagittarius Restaurants, LLC, acquired Del Taco, the second largest Mexican food chain in the United States and based in California. Additional information is available at www.captainds.com.