J. Alexander's Corporation Reports Results for Third Quarter and First Nine Months

J. Alexander's Corporation (AMEX: JAX) today reported operating results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007.

Highlights for the most recent quarter compared to the third period of 2006 were as follows:

• Net sales increased 1.4% to $33,356,000 from $32,891,000.

• Weighted average weekly same store sales per restaurant rose 1.3%.

• Income before income taxes, which included pre-opening expense of $537,000 in the 2007 quarter, decreased to $240,000 from $563,000.

• The 2007 quarter included an income tax benefit of $150,000 compared to tax expense of $127,000 in 2006.

• Net income decreased 10.6% to $390,000 for the 2007 quarter compared to $436,000 in the comparable quarter of 2006, and diluted earnings per share was $.06 for both periods.

For the first nine months of 2007, J. Alexander's Corporation recorded net sales of $104,623,000, up 3.1% from $101,470,000 recorded in the first three quarters of 2006. The Company's net income for the first three quarters of 2007 was $3,368,000, or $.48 per diluted share, an increase of 30.3% from $2,584,000, or $.38 per diluted share, posted in the comparable nine months of 2006.

Commenting on the results, J. Alexander's Corporation chairman, president and chief executive officer Lonnie J. Stout II said, 'We are pleased we achieved a continued increase in same store sales, but our sales growth for the quarter slowed from the first half of the year. The effect of slower sales growth and high operating costs resulted in our earnings for the quarter falling short of our expectations. The pre-opening expense incurred during the quarter was primarily related to our newest restaurant opened in Atlanta on October 1.'

Stout said that the increase in same store sales for the quarter just ended was the result of a higher guest check average. He reported that the Company's average guest check, including alcoholic beverage sales, rose by approximately 6.3% in the third quarter of 2007 over the corresponding period of 2006, while average guest counts declined on a same store basis by approximately 4.7%.

J. Alexander's Corporation's weighted average weekly sales and same store sales per restaurant increased to $91,500 in the third quarter of 2007 from $90,300 in the comparable period of the prior year. Same store sales calculations are based on 28 restaurants open for more than 18 months.

Stout said that increases in restaurant operating costs placed pressure on restaurant operating margins for the quarter. 'Cost of sales, while lower as a percentage of net sales in the third quarter of 2007 than in the third quarter of 2006, continued to trend up for the year and increased to 32.8% of net sales for the quarter from 32.5% in the second quarter of 2007,' Stout explained. 'Labor costs for the quarter, which included the effect of increases in the minimum cash wages paid to tipped employees in several states, increased to 33.2% of net sales from 32.7% of net sales in the same quarter a year ago. Our restaurant operating margins (net sales minus total restaurant operating expenses divided by net sales) decreased to 9.9% in the third quarter of 2007 from 10.0% in the same period of 2006. Restaurant operating margins for the first three quarters of 2007 improved, however, to 12.2% from 11.5% for the same period of 2006.'

J. Alexander's Corporation had weighted weekly average same store sales per restaurant of $95,500 through the first three quarters of 2007, up 3.2% over $92,500 recorded in the corresponding nine months of 2006. The Company's average weekly sales per restaurant for the first three quarters of 2007 were $95,700, up 3.1% from $92,800 reported in the same three quarters a year earlier. The average guest check, including alcoholic beverage sales, rose 7.4% in the first nine months of 2007 over the same period of 2006 while average guest counts declined on a same store basis by approximately 4.1%.

Stout said the Company has experienced several consecutive weeks of decreases in same store sales since mid-September which management believes are primarily the result of weakness in consumer confidence and a slump in casual dining. 'We believe our upscale positioning offers a degree of protection during economic downturns,' he commented, 'but we are not immune from the effects of the economy.

'We are finding the current economic environment to be challenging and are cautious in our outlook for the remainder of the year,' he continued. 'We expect our input costs to remain high, placing continued pressure on our restaurant operating margins. However, we are hesitant to increase our menu prices at this time because of concerns about weakened consumer spending. As always, we will focus on delivering superior service to our guests and maintaining efficient operations during this time.'

Stout said that J. Alexander's Corporation will incur substantial pre-opening expense in the fourth quarter of 2007, primarily related to the Company's new restaurant which is expected to open in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in November. The Company also expects to incur higher costs in connection with SOX compliance matters and stock based compensation expense.

'Based on our results to date and our current outlook for the balance of the year, we do not believe it is likely that we will achieve the targeted level of performance for paying cash incentive compensation to our corporate management team, and we have eliminated all bonus accruals for corporate management. We pay bonuses only for superior results,' Stout added.

Based primarily on lower performance expectations for the year, the Company reduced its estimated effective income tax rate for 2007, resulting in a favorable adjustment to the income tax provision for the third quarter. The income tax benefit recorded for the quarter also included a favorable adjustment of $43,000 which represents a discrete item recorded in connection with the finalization of tax matters upon filing of the Company's tax returns for the previous year. The combined effect of these items resulted in an income tax benefit for the quarter of $150,000.

The opening of the Company's new J. Alexander's restaurants in Atlanta and Palm Beach Gardens will bring the total number of sites in operation to 30 in 12 states. Other new restaurants are planned for Scottsdale, Arizona and Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida in 2008, and their progress remains on schedule. Leases have been executed for the Scottsdale and Orlando locations and a lease for the Jacksonville location is expected to be finalized soon.

J. Alexander's Corporation presently operates its 29 J. Alexander's restaurants in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. J. Alexander's is an upscale, contemporary American restaurant known for its wood-fired cuisine. The Company's menu features a wide selection of American classics, including steaks, prime rib of beef and fresh seafood, as well as a large assortment of interesting salads, sandwiches and desserts. J. Alexander's also has a full-service bar that features an outstanding selection of wines by the glass and bottle.

J. Alexander's Corporation is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

Logos, product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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