Business

Burger and pizza joint making dough at former bank

The new Supermac's and Papa John's on Andersonstown Road, Belfast
The new Supermac's and Papa John's on Andersonstown Road, Belfast The new Supermac's and Papa John's on Andersonstown Road, Belfast

IT WAS well known for making money, but now the former Danske Bank on Andersonstown Road will be making dough - literally.

For the west Belfast premises is to reopen as a pizza and burger restaurant this Friday.

Irish food chain Supermac's and Papa John's Pizza is opening an outlet in a move that will create 25 new jobs.

It is just the third Papa John's restaurant in the north and the fourth Supermac's restaurant.

Supermac's opened its first restaurant in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, in 1978.

It now has annual turnover of €82 million (£56m) and employs more than 2,500.

The company has more than 100 restaurants across Ireland but promises "aggressive expansion plans".

The company was founded by former school teacher Pat McDonagh.

Papa John's meanwhile is an American chain which is operated by Supermac's in Ireland.

The eatery was founded in 1983 and has more than 4,600 outlets throughout the world, the majority in the United States.

Supermac's is the latest Irish burger chain to expand in the north. It follows the opening of the second Eddie Rocket's in Northern Ireland on Belfast's Lisburn Road.

Supermac's and Papa John's already operate in Dungannon and Dundonald while there is a standalone Supermac's restaurant in Derry.

A spokeswoman for the company said: "Over the coming year Supermac's has plans to open a further number of restaurants. This in turn will generate employment on a national level adding to its existing 3,000 plus employees.

"As owners of 11 Claddagh Irish restaurants and pubs in the US Pat and Una McDonagh, Directors of Supermac's, have also expanded their hospitality business interests through the purchase and development of the Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick, Loughrea Hotel and Spa, Galway and most recently the Charleville Park Hotel, Cork and The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise."