Johnny Rockets makes a return to the desert

People in the valley now have a chance, once again, to get the “original hamburger.”

“I can only gauge the reception of the community by the reception of my own kids, and my kids are thrilled that hamburgers and chocolate shakes are coming right back to Rancho Mirage,” Rancho Mirage Mayor Scott Hines said.

Johnny Rockets may just have that affect on people, then. People News Channel 3 spoke to responded the same way.

“Johnny Rocket’s is the best,” La Quinta resident Aaron Johnson said.

“It brings back memories of being able to order your tuna melt, a good hamburger, a malt, some good french fries,” Palm Desert resident Elise David said.

The 1950s-style diner boasts a menu that will add even more spice to an already well-seasoned Rancho Mirage, setting up shop right across from The River.

“The city has worked really hard to develop that particular corridoor as Restaurant Row,” Hines said.

“It’s a perfect place, it’ll catch a lot of traffic. It will be fun to walk around a catch (dinner from) a diner after a movie,” David said.

However, the diner opened in The River in 2004, only to get shut down a few years later.

“I think that businesses from time to time try to move around, try a new location,” Hines noted.

It’ll take the spot of Ruby’s — another ’50s-style diner that closed it’s doors in May of 2011.

“The lease has just recently been signed. There are not much tenant improvements that are needed because it’s similar in the operation to Rubys,” Hines said.

Now, the valley has access to the famous restaurant, because the city continues to work to draw in big names.

“I think this is indicative of the rebound we’re seeing throughout Rancho Mirage. We’re seeing a lot of new restaurants open. Old Spaghetti Factory went in recently. We’ve got a lot of exciting things happening,” Hines said.

Johnny Rockets fans said they’re curious to see if the new location is really enough to keep this ’50s joint rockin’ this time around.