Krystal Restaurants is finally expanding in the Northeast

Krystal Restaurants LLC is opening a QSR on March 2, 2026 at 2200 Route 22 East in Union, New Jersey. What’s so unusual about that?

It marks Krystal’s debut in the Northeast and a major milestone in the brand’s 93-year history.

Krystal restaurants, both company-owned and franchised, are primarily located across the Southeastern United States, with a high concentration of locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. The chain also has a presence in Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

The company has confidence that Krystal’s food and guest experience will resonate well beyond the South, according to Kaitlin Kees, senior director of marketing at Krystal.

Krystal moved its headquarters from Chattanooga to the Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody in early 2013. Krystal is a subsidiary of SPB Hospitality, a multi-brand restaurant operator headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Krystal is known for its small, square hamburgers, called sliders, with steamed-in onions since its founding in 1932. Krystal has expanded to 11 states and Puerto Rico with nearly 300 restaurants. New Jersey will be the 12th state and the only state in the Northeast.

The N.J. location is led by franchise partner Victor Cruz, a former New York Giants wide receiver, Super Bowl XLVI champion and sportscaster, who is bringing the beloved slider brand to his home state.

Read more: Krystal makes its debut in the Northeast (Nation's Restaurant News)