Burger 21®, a new better burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot® Restaurants, Inc., announced the signing of its first franchise agreement in Scottsdale. Burger 21 restaurant will soon be bringing its crafted burgers and hand-spun shakes to 7001 North Scottsdale Road, further expanding the brand’s footprint to a total of nine states and positioning it for further growth westward. To date, Burger 21 has 11 open locations and 18 franchised restaurants in development across the country.

“This is a significant achievement in our company’s history as Burger 21 expands westward for the first time,” said Mark Johnston, Burger 21 president and chief concept officer of Front Burner Brands, management company for Burger 21.

Burger 21 recently was named one of Fast Casual’s Top 100 “Movers and Shakers” of 2013. The concept ranked No. 22 based on its variety of innovative recipes and recent expansion. In addition, the franchise’s gluten-free menu received the No. 1 ranking in the “Top 10 Menu Innovations” category and Mark Johnston was recognized as one of the “Top 20 People” for his strategic leadership in the growth and development of the brand.