That’s a lot of deliciousness, and also a lot of oil. We didn’t want this oil to go to waste, so we partnered with DAR PRO Solutions to make our use of oil more sustainable. Through their green program, our 29 corporate-owned restaurants recycle nearly 7,200 pounds of used cooking oil per year, per restaurant.

The collection and recycling of this waste oil not only saves and produces energy, it also keeps the used product out of waterways and contributes to the growing demand for renewable energy sources.

How does it work?

DAR PRO Solutions offers environmentally-safe methods for disposal and sustainable use of fry oil for national restaurant chains, grocery retailers and other food service businesses.

First, they converts animal fats and recycled greases, as well as plant oils such as soybean oil into biodiesel fuel, called Bio G-3000™.

Then, Bio G-3000™ (the fastest growing domestically produced alternative fuel) can be used in place of diesel fuel without engine modification or performance reduction.  Pretty cool, huh?

What are you doing today (and every day) to promote sustainability?

Congratulations to Juliana Soto on celebrating 6 years at Johnny Rockets! Juliana currently is a Supervisor at our Johnny Rockets location at The Pointe in Orlando. She spent her early career with us at Johnny Rockets cross training and learning the ins and outs of three different restaurants in Puerto Rico. “There are many differences between the Puerto Rico and the American restaurants, particularly in their menus,” Juliana says. “There was no change in the dances though – The Puerto Rican servers would dance in the middle of the mall, and even engage Guests and shoppers in the all-American dances!” Juliana’s desire is to continue to grow with Johnny Rockets and ultimately become a General Manager.

Here are a few of Juliana’s “favorite things:”

What do you like best about your job? Meeting different people every day and working with our staff.

Do you have a Johnny Rockets Mentor? Robin Scussel, our GM. She represents the brand, and always uses her free time to train me. She goes above and beyond, is full of passion, and is dedicated to our team and to her family.

Other than Johnny Rockets, what would be your dream job? I have a major in Psychology. I would like to engage in Couples Therapy.

What would be your ultimate job at Johnny Rockets? General Manager

What is your favorite Johnny Rockets menu item? Bacon Cheddar Single – I love the secret sauce!

What is your favorite Shake flavor? I’m not a huge Shake fan, myself. But I LOVE making monster Shakes!

What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not working? Visit different restaurants, dancing, shopping, and sun tanning.

What are you doing for the holidays? My parents will be visiting from Puerto Rico. I haven’t seen them for six months.

What’s our favorite holiday meal? BBQ Pork. We roast a pig for the holidays.

What makes you smile? When all is going well at work and in my personal life.

Check out our Pinterest Board, Birthday Fun! for more photos of the Family Dish party.

Make sure you tag your photos with #JohnnyRockets for a chance to be featured on The Original Hamburger.

Congratulations to Lindsay Martin on celebrating 4 years at Johnny Rockets! Lindsay is the General Manager of our Circle Center restaurant, in Indiana. “We’re all about making each Guest’s day and maybe changing their outlook,” said Lindsay. “I like to bring excitement and passion to the training process. It’s rewarding to watch the staff learn a whole new concept of working – introducing something new to them that they know nothing about, and watching it unfold and come together. It’s such a good feeling!”

Lindsay was also part of a team who traveled to our new Bali restaurant in Indonesia and she worked the “front of the house,” training the servers and teaching our Johnny Rocket dances. She has trained teams at our restaurants in Santiago, Chile; South Korea; and the Dominican Republic. Awesome!

Here are a few of Lindsay’s “favorite things:” 

Do you have a Johnny Rockets Mentor? Yes, I have two. Marc Abenoja has taught me so much about Johnny Rockets from products to passion, and that has made me a better person. Sheri Davenport was my training GM and has shown me how to bring enthusiasm to the staff, so our Guests have the best Johnny Rockets’ experience ever. She always makes me want to be better.

Other than Johnny Rockets, what would be your dream job? A teacher…..I studied elementary education as my major in college with a minor in special education. I love to teach and watch the rewards of helping someone succeed in life.

What would be your ultimate job at Johnny Rockets? Marc’s job!! No, I would like to be a FSS. I love what I do now, and enjoy traveling and training.

What is your favorite Johnny Rockets menu item? The Houston, The Smokehouse … okay, The Philly!

What is your favorite Shake flavor? Strawberry Oreo and Orange Dreamsicle

What is your favorite song on our jukebox? “Get Down Tonight” by K.C. & the Sunshine Band (or any Beatles song too!)

What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not working? I love football; I’m a huge Colt’s fan! I also enjoying music and going to concerts.

What makes you smile? “A good day at work!” And, I like spending time with my family and friends.

DANCE!

After all, we can provide the ingredients and recipes for our delicious all-American food…but only our employees can provide the fun and friendliness that has made us famous, around the world!

How did it all begin?
Our original location is on Melrose Avenue, in Los Angeles, and shortly after we opened, our servers danced for our Guests while they waited for their Hamburgers and Shakes. We use only fresh, never frozen beef, and for this reason our food takes a bit longer to cook than at other casual dining restaurants. Our LA fans loved the dancing and, just like that, it became tradition.

How can YOU rock?
We’re rounding up photos and videos of our dancing servers and you can help. How? Send us videos and photos you’ve taken of our famous dancing servers. Tag us on Facebook and Instagram, and tweet us on Twitter using the tag #JohnnyRocks so we can find them. We’ll share the best #JohnnyRocks submissions, and award free meals to the best videos submitted for the following categories:

1. Best RESPECT dance
2. Funniest dance moves
3. Most Guests participating in a dance

We’ll track and sharing submissions throughout the month – announcing winners in the above three categories (and several other surprise categories), on March 31, 2013. Remember – these don’t need to be new videos. If you have photos and videos from past visits, you can enter them as well.

We look forward to your submissions!

ROCK ON with these Decade Jukebox Playlists:

The 50′s:

The 60′s:

The 70′s:

The 80′s:

Make sure you tag your photos with #JohnnyRockets for a chance to be featured on The Original Hamburger.

Congratulations to Ken Hatfield on celebrating 7 years at Johnny Rockets! Ken is the General Manager of  our store  in Greenwood (Indianapolis), Indiana. “I’ve always wanted to train and support employees. It gives me tremendous satisfaction when I watch the team excel and progress.” Ken was also part of a team who traveled to our new Bali restaurant in Indonesia to prepare and train a new team for its opening. Ken said it was a great experience and he can’t wait to join Training and Support for another adventure.

Here are a few of Ken’s “favorite things:”

What do you like best about your job? The best part of being a General Manager is training and teaching the staff and watching the fruits of my labor come to fruition.  I enjoy watching them taking that “next step” and reaching for success.

What would be your ultimate job at Johnny Rockets? To work in Training and Support for both domestic and international restaurants. It’s rewarding to teach people, and point them in the right direction.

Other than Johnny Rockets, what would be your dream job? I’ve always wanted my own restaurant.  My second dream job would be to travel with Johnny Rockets opening new restaurants.

What is your favorite Johnny Rockets menu item? Turkey Patty Melt

What is your favorite Shake flavor? Strawberry & Peanut Butter Shake (like a PBJ sandwich) and our Cherry Coke Shake, I named it “Lollipop!”

What is your favorite song on our jukebox? “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees

What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not working? I love to go fishing with my wife!  There is a small pond behind our house.  We find it very relaxing and it reduces stress.

What did you do on your summer vacation? During the summer, my wife and I took trips home to see our families.  I also went skydiving for the very first time.  It was incredible!

What makes you smile? Practical jokes!  I enjoy silly jokes, and like to goof around with my staff and friends.

…  in ketchup!

Cynthia set up shop at the Johnny Rockets restaurant on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica yesterday afternoon and got to work painting with the tasty medium.

We’re sure you’re familiar with the Ketchup Smiles we serve with our American Fries, and to celebrate such a fine American Holiday as Presidents’ Day, we thought – let’s really do this. We stuck with ketchup, called in a pro, cranked up the jukebox and had some fun honoring our American presidents.

Watch as Cynthia paints an impressive representation of  George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln in America’s Favorite Condiment… looking very presidential today:

We hope you enjoyed watching this Ketchup Art masterpiece come together as much as we did.  Happy Presidents’ Day, America!

To view other event photos, visit our Facebook album. Tell us what other Ketchup Art you’d like to see, below, in the comments!

Watch as this artist paints Mount Rushmore with Ketchup: youtu.be/Sn4_bKSa4DQ #KetchupArt #JohnnyRockets

— Johnny Rockets (@johnny_rockets) February 19, 2013

Jacob and Michelle were introduced  through a mutual friend. Their relationship began on Facebook, messaging each other while he was deployed in Iraq. They talked for several  Summer months but dating was never mentioned. They loved just chatting about everyday things and about his life overseas, and hers, in the states.

Jacob came home in August 2011, and the first time they met in person they went to the movies, followed by Shakes at Johnny Rockets.

After about 8 months together, they found themselves back at Johnny Rockets, but this time he proposed!

They will be married in the spring of 2014 and are very much looking very forward to it. Michelle wrote to us, saying “he is my best friend and I’m lucky to spend the rest of my life with him!”

We would like to wish them the best of luck and congratulations on behalf of everyone at Johnny Rockets. Thank you to Kari Lorene for the photos in this post. [Lorenes Photography]

Have you ever taken your date to Johnny Rockets? Tell us your story in the comments.  <3