The new Ruby Tuesdays will be developed and operated by RT LA Group LLC, whose principals include David Fish, Rob Rittgers and Troy Saldana. Fish was the founder and operator of Premier Medical Management Systems Inc., which provides facilities, insurance claim administration and other services for doctors.

Rittgers is a native of Southern California who has 20 years of experience in finance and the real estate industry, and he is also a principal owner of several mortgage companies in the San Diego area. Saldana has more than 18 years of restaurant operations experience and a background in hotel management.

The deal marks Ruby Tuesday's second franchise in Southern California. The first is led by partners who include former National Football League player Junior Seau and Ruby Tuesday's franchisee for Hawaii, Ted Davenport.

Company officials say the new franchise in Los Angeles is part of a push in which Ruby Tuesday is aggressively franchising territories in the western US and in international locations. In addition to this franchising, the company is expanding its corporate-owned locations as well.

For example, Ruby Tuesday reported in its latest quarterly financial filings with the SEC that it opened 32 new restaurants, acquired 17 restaurants from its Orlando, FL franchisee, closed two restaurants and sold or leased three restaurants to an existing franchisee during the latest quarter. In addition, aside from the restaurants purchased from or sold to the company, domestic and international franchisees opened 17 new Ruby Tuesday restaurants during the quarter.