Ponderosa, Bennigan's to Open Restaurants in Thailand in 2002.

Byline: Sukanya Jitpleecheep

Nov. 7--New York restaurant chains Ponderosa and Bennigan's will open their doors in Thailand next year, unworried by the economic slowdown.

Entering the market when the economy was in a down-cycle would help investors benefit from low costs, Eric Taylor, director of international franchise development for the Metromedia Restaurant Group, said yesterday.

Metromedia owns Ponderosa, a family-oriented buffet steakhouse, and Bennigan's, an Irish-American grill and tavern.

Over the next three years, Ponderosa and Bennigan's are expected to have a total of 10 restaurants in Asia, of which two will be in Thailand.

The company is talking with potential partners including the Minor Food Group, Central Group, MK Restaurant, Royal Kitchen and Pho-Ngam Property. Franchisees are likely to be appointed next year. The contracts, renewable every 10 years, will allow each franchisee to run only one of the two brands of steakhouse.

Metromedia has expanded its business in Asia in the last decade, starting in Taiwan. It now has a total of just over 25 restaurants in Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea.