BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ:BJRI) today announced the record-setting opening of its newest restaurant in Downey, California, on August 3, 2009. The new BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse is located at the Stonewood Center Mall, a 950,000 square foot, super-regional shopping center anchored by Macy’s Home Store, Macy’s, JCPenney and Kohl’s. The restaurant is approximately 8,600 square feet, includes seating for approximately 260 guests and features BJ’s extensive menu, including BJ's signature deep-dish pizza, award-winning handcrafted beer and famous Pizookie® dessert. BJ’s highly detailed, contemporary décor and unique video statement, including several high definition flat panel televisions, creates a high energy, fun and family-friendly dining environment for everyone to enjoy. Hours of operation are from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

“Downey’s opening day sales were in excess of $25,000, setting a new record for BJ’s on that measure,” commented Jerry Deitchle, Chairman and CEO. “Our new Downey restaurant is located in a densely populated, mature trade area with proven and stable levels of retail sales in our core Southern California market, where the BJ’s concept enjoys strong brand awareness and high sales volumes. Our Downey opening represents our fourth new restaurant for 2009. We currently remain on track to open as many as six more restaurants during 2009 and thereby achieve our stated goal to increase our total restaurant operating weeks by at least 15% this year.”

BJ's Restaurants, Inc. currently owns and operates 86 casual dining restaurants under the BJ's Restaurant & Brewery, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse or BJ's Pizza & Grill brand names. BJ's restaurants offer an innovative and broad menu featuring award-winning, signature deep-dish pizza complemented with generously portioned salads, appetizers, sandwiches, soups, pastas, entrées and desserts. Quality, flavor, value, moderate prices and sincere service remain distinct attributes of the BJ's experience. The Company operates several microbreweries which produce and distribute BJ's critically acclaimed handcrafted beers throughout the chain. The Company's restaurants are located in California (45), Texas (14), Arizona (5), Colorado (3), Oregon (2), Nevada (3), Florida (5), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (2), Kentucky (1), Indiana (1), Louisiana (1) and Washington (2). The Company also has a licensing interest in a BJ's restaurant in Lahaina, Maui. Visit BJ's Restaurants, Inc.