Five Guys Burgers and Fries opens at Sky View Center; Onex Real Estate Partners is property developer

National restaurant chain Five Guys Burgers and Fries is the latest addition to the expanding Sky View Center, located in Flushing, at College Point Blvd. and Roosevelt Ave. The fast food chain is now open on level B of the 800,000 s/f regional mall. With over 750 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, this 2,000 s/f Five Guys-one of 200 new franchises opening in 2011-marks the third Queens location for the burger joint. "We're so pleased to welcome a fantastic brand like Five Guys Burgers and Fries to Sky View Center," said Michael Dana, president of Onex Real Estate Partners, owner/developer of Sky View Center. "We're constantly looking for ways to enhance our customers' shopping experience and we're confident that Five Guys will quickly become a popular attraction." The opening of Five Guys culminates a busy summer at Sky View Center, which also welcomed international shoe retailer Famous Footwear last month with a festive grand opening event including an on-site DJ, giveaways and free shopping sprees. "Sky View Center has become a one-stop shopping destination for the community, and the opening of Five Guys and Famous Footwear further expands our reach to new visitors," said Dana. Founded in 1986 by Janie and Jerry Murrel, Five Guys continues to be family-owned and operated by their five sons. The company, which originated in Arlington, Virginia, has quickly expanded from a local favorite with six locations in 2002 to the highly popular international brand it is today. Known for their double-patty burgers and free peanuts, the restaurants stand-out with their signature red and white checked design scheme. Five Guys and Famous Footwear join other premier retailers at Sky View Center, including the recently opened specialty Asian grocery store, Sky Foods, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, BJ's Wholesale Club, Bob's Discount Furniture, Marshalls, Payless ShoeSource and Target (including a Starbucks and Pizza Hut Express) and restaurants Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Chuck E. Cheese's. Located in downtown Flushing and a short distance away from other heavily populated Queens neighborhoods such as Corona, Forest Hills, Jackson Heights, Whitestone and Bayside, Sky View Center retailers stand to benefit from incredible population density - more than 750,000 people live within three miles - and is easily accessible by both car and mass transit. The regularly expanding shopping destination currently offers 3-hours of free parking seven days a week.