Alliance's plans for the company include adding about 15 unitsper year nationally, William Burk, the firm's president told GSR,declining to release the financial terms of the deal. Damon'srestaurants average 6,000 sf. "We have the ability to build inevery market in the country simultaneously," he says, referring toa partnership alliance has with international construction-servicesfirm Bovis Lend Lease.

Alliance first became interested in Damon's a few years ago whenit approached the locally based chain to build sites, Burk says.The firm's management then found out that Damon's was havingfinancial difficulties and looking to sell, which led to thetransaction.

Other than adding units, Alliance will work to strengthenDamon's financials and increase the number of restaurants that areoperated by franchisees, Burk says. About 20% of its units arecurrently company owned, and Alliance executives would like todecrease that number to 5%, he says. "That would be a signal to thefranchise community that we don't want to compete with them," Burksays.