News

June 1, 2008

Mimi’s Café Expanding in Washington Baltimore Market

First Retail Partners is pleased to announce that Mimi’s Café opened in Sterling Virginia at Dulles Town Center in March. This is the first of four new locations for this restaurant in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Other locations include Waldorf, MD, Columbia, MD and Fredericksburg, VA.

“The Washington region presents an unparalleled opportunity of growth for this restaurant”, said Roger Carlson, Partner, First Retail Partners. “Mimi’s Café appeals to the savvy, cost conscientious customer who enjoys home-cooked meals, with fresh ingredients, and often does not have time to cook,” said Carlson.

Mimi’s Café offers a full breakfast, lunch or dinner menu. Guests are often drawn to Mimi’s Café because of its unique, European-style cottage exterior. The decor package emphasizes authentic artwork and artifacts, awnings, plants, glass-covered tablecloths, comfortable wooden furniture, brick and imported tiles.

“There is an incredible demand in this Washington market for restaurants of this quality and at the price point of Mimi’s Café, ” said Scott Thiell, partner, First Retail Partners. “Mimi’s Café is committed to growing its customer base and market presence in this area and our firm is guiding the restaurant in this process,” said Thiell.

First Retail Partners is seeking sites for the restaurant in traditional retail locations as well as theater sites and nonbreakfast venues. The typical size of the restaurant is 6,800 square feet. In addition to Mimi’s Café, First Retail Partners has introduced several new restaurant concepts to the Washington Baltimore region including Panera Bread, Ruby Tuesday’s, Hooters, Pei Wei and now Mimi’s Café.

Background
Mimi’s Café is a collection of upscale family dining restaurants with 132 locations in 22 states. Mimi’s Café is a unit wholly owned by Bob Evans Farms, Inc. a publicly traded company (NASDAQ ticker symbol BOBE) Mimi’s Café is known and loved for its full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus with high-quality, eclectic cuisine and home cooked meals, unparalleled service and tastefully appointed décor. Guests are often drawn to Mimi’s Café because of its European-style cottage exterior. Once inside, guests are offered a full breakfast, lunch or dinner menu. Mimi’s Café is open from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm, seven days a week.