Genesis BBQ opened its first branch in the state of Michigan on Wednesday, expanding its reach in the United States.

It marks the company’s expansion into its 24th state within the U.S. Genesis BBQ initially started with a store in Manhattan, New York and has since grown to operate over 250 branches across 24 states in the country.

The new store located in Troy, Michigan, occupies a store space of 277.6 square meters (2,988 square feet). Situated in close proximity to a bustling shopping area and a university, the location is expected to attract a significant influx of customers, according to Genesis BBQ.

“The opening of our first store in Michigan serves as a significant milestone in BBQ’s remarkable growth trajectory,” Yoon Hong-geun, the chairman of Genesis BBQ, said. “Our aim is to establish 50,000 branches globally, including in the North American market.”

Genesis BBQ’s global presence spans 57 countries with over 700 branches worldwide, including Canada, Japan, Germany, the Philippines, and Panama.

BY JI-EUN SEO [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]