Johnny Rockets is firing up its grills at Excalibur Hotel & Casino, with signage already installed at the medieval-themed Strip resort ahead of a planned fall opening. The retro burger chain, known for its cooked-to-order Certified Angus Beef patties and hand-spun milkshakes, will mark its fourth location in Nevada once the doors open at 3850 S Las Vegas Blvd.
The build-out at Excalibur was first reported by WhatNow, which confirmed the chain is planning a soft opening before fully launching this fall. The new diner will be operated by Fifth Avenue Restaurant Group, the longtime Las Vegas franchisee that already runs close to 50 food court and fast-casual spots across major Strip properties including MGM Grand, The Venetian, New York-New York, Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur itself, according to a Sponsor Circle profile of the company. Founder Frank Bonanno, who has run hospitality concepts in Las Vegas for more than two decades, told WhatNow the goal with any new location is straightforward: open in high-traffic spots where the restaurant can deliver great food and an excellent guest experience in an inviting atmosphere.
Bonanno isn't stopping at burgers. WhatNow reports plans for a new Bonanno's New York Pizzeria beside the Johnny Rockets space at Excalibur. The pizzeria, which features imported Italian flour and artisanal New York-style pies, is expected to open by this fall as well, giving Excalibur's food court a side-by-side pairing of two Fifth Avenue concepts.
A 24-Hour Food Court at Excalibur
Excalibur's food court operates around the clock and offers quick-service options. Fifth Avenue has advertised jobs for a new food hall at New York-New York.
Wing Zone has a location at the Flamingo.
From a 20-Stool Melrose Diner to a Global Chain
Johnny Rockets traces back to 1986, when founder Ronn Teitelbaum opened a 20-stool retro diner modeled on 1940s and 1950s malt shops on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, according to WhatNow. The name blends Johnny Appleseed with the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. That original Melrose location closed in October 2015, and the historic 7507 Melrose space sat dormant before reopening in March 2025 as Marathon Burger, Nipsey Hussle's burger concept, as previously reported by Hoodline.
The chain has since expanded globally into malls, amusement parks, stadiums and cruise ships, growing to more than 275 locations across more than 25 countries, with roughly 64 to 66 active locations currently operating in the United States, per WhatNow. Nevada will soon host four locations, including the planned Excalibur spot, and the brand also has a location serving Reno.
Corporate Turmoil Behind the Brand
The Excalibur opening comes as Johnny Rockets' corporate ownership has been in upheaval. FAT Brands acquired the chain for $25 million in August 2020 as part of a broader acquisition spree that eventually left the company carrying roughly $1.45 billion in debt. That debt load pushed FAT Brands into a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in Texas in January, a story Hoodline covered in its report on a Florida franchise ditching FAT Brands.
FAT Brands' website now goes by OHG Brands.
For now, the corporate churn hasn't slowed Fifth Avenue's build-out at Excalibur. Burgers, shakes, fries and fun remain on the menu, alongside veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches and crispy fries, with the new location expected to open sometime this fall as signage goes up.
