JAI Restaurant Group
JAI Restaurant Group
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    • Home
    • Careers
    • Our Story
    • Our Restaurants
    • News
    • Contact Us
    • Employee Portal
  • Home
  • Careers
  • Our Story
  • Our Restaurants
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Employee Portal

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

Photo of a boxer

OUR FOUNDER

A bearded man

Jhonny Mercado

BIO

OUR STORY

1998

1998

1998

Jhonny Mercado & Andres Garcia joined the Wendy’s Family in Venezuela.

2007

1998

1998

Jhonny Mercado & Andres Garcia acquired first 3 Restaurants in Miami, Florida. Founded JAI International Investment.

2007

1998

2007

Jhonny Mercado & Andres Garcia Purchased 2 Additional Restaurants.

2011

2011

2007

JAI International Investment acquired 14 restaurants in West Palm Beach & Tampa, Florida.

2012

2011

2012

JAI International Investment acquired 15 restaurants in Miami & Tampa, Florida.

2013

2011

2012

JAI International Investment through New Builds & Acquisitions are Operating 37 Restaurants out of Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, & Tampa, Florida.

2013

2013

2013

JAI International Investment developed & opened 2 new restaurants.

2013

2013

2013

JAI International Investment received the Exceptional Employer Award from Florida Governor Rick Scott.

2014

2013

2014

JAI International Investment acquired 25 Restaurants out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

2014

2014

2014

JAI & WenRod merged companies to become JAE Restaurant Group with 75 Total Restaurants.

2014

2014

2014

JAE acquired 15 Restaurants from El Paso, Texas & including 2 New Builds brings JAE to 92 Restaurants.

2015

2014

2014

JAE acquired 42 additional Restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale & West Palm Beach, Florida.

2016

2016

2016

JAE acquired 44 additional Restaurants in Miami, Florida, Florida.

2017

2016

2016

JAE acquired 34 Restaurants out of Knoxville, Tennessee.

2019

2016

2019

JAE acquired 4 new restaurants in Florida.

2019

2019

2019

JAE acquired 13 restaurants in Daytona, Florida.

2021

2019

2021

JAE received “Best Operator of the Year Award” from Wendy’s corporate, and “Culture at Work Award” from ADP.

2021

2019

2021

JAE sold part of its restaurants. JAI kept 74 locations including 10 recently acquired locations in South Carolina.   

2022

2022

2022

JAI opened 4 new restaurants, 2 in Texas and 2 in Tennessee.

 

2022

2022

2022

JAI expanded its footprint, to include 7 restaurants in Augusta, Georgia.

2022

2022

2022

JAI added 2 more restaurants in Charleston, Carolina.

 

2023

2023

2022

JAI became a part of the Taco Bell concept by acquiring 20 Taco Bell restaurants located in Atlanta, GA.

2023

2023

2023

JAI opened 4 new restaurants, 1 in Tennessee, 1 in South Carolina, and 2 in Texas.

JAI acquired 2 restaurants in Aiken, South Carolina.

2024

2023

2023

JAI opened 4 new restaurants, 2 in Tennessee and 2 in Texas.

JAI acquired 4 restaurants in North Augusta, South Carolina.

OUR TEAM

    OUR EXECUTIVES

    Rajeev

    Rajeev Sabharwal

    Rajeev Sabharwal

    Rajeev Sabharwal

    Chief Executive Officer

    BIO
    Tommi

    Tommi Wahrman

    Rajeev Sabharwal

    Rajeev Sabharwal

    Chief Financial Officer

    BIO
    Rob

    Rob Pham

    Rajeev Sabharwal

    Micah Melvin

    Vice President of Information Technology 

    BIO

    Micah Melvin

    Micah Melvin

    Micah Melvin

    Vice President of Operations 

    BIO
    Ana

    Ana Adarmes

    Micah Melvin

    Ana Adarmes

    Marketing Manager

    BIO

    COPYRIGHT © 2025 JAI RESTAURANT GROUP - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


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