(Photo courtesy of Hawaiian Bros)A restaurant franchise specializing in Hawaiian-style food will expand to all of the major cities across Northwest Arkansas over the next few years.
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill officials on Thursday announced a franchise agreement with Ohana Restaurant Group that will add new restaurants in Fayetteville, Rogers and Bentonville.
The newly formed group, which already operates a location in Springdale, will also open restaurants in Fort Smith, Wichita, Kansas and in both Joplin and Springfield, Missouri.
Ohana is a partnership of Zach Fugate of Fugate Enterprises and cousins Nick and Nathan Blasi. Fugate leads the Pizza Hut division of the family business his grandfather started in 1974. Based in Wichita, Fugate Enterprises operates approximately 150 Pizza Hut and 75 Taco Bell locations across multiple states.
The Blasi cousins are licensees and dealers of marine watercraft, operating multiple retail locations in the greater Wichita area.
Hawaiian Bros was launched in 2018 and since has grown to nearly 40 locations across nine states, according to the company’s website.
The restaurant’s plate lunch concept offers a variety of chicken glazed with sweet, savory, or spicy sauces or slow-roasted pork; macaroni salad, a bed of steamed white rice or vegetables; and a tropical soft serve dessert.
