In January of 1991, the momentum of the chain increased greatly with the addition of George E. Michel as A&W®'s new President and Chief Operating Officer. A 20 year veteran of A&W Food Services of Canada, Michel is credited with more than doubling the number of corporate restaurants during his tenure in Canada and is also recognized for guiding the company's growth by increasing the number and strength of the franchise operations.

Michel guided A&W®'s expansion efforts into the captive, high-pedestrian segment with an immediate focus on opening new restaurants in food courts, shopping centers, office buildings and multi-use complexes.

In January 1992, Michel became the Chief Executive Officer of A&W Restaurants, Inc. and continued to strengthen and lead the company toward targeted growth. Under Michel's watch, new A&W® food carts and kiosk units began being introduced to compete more aggressively in the alternative site markets.

In December 1994, Sagittarius Acquisitions, Incorporated, headed by Sidney Feltenstein purchased A&W Restaurants, Inc. from the Taubman interests. The new ownership, backed by the investment company, Grotech Capital, grew with Feltenstein's long history of industry experience. (Feltenstein is a former Executive Vice President of Marketing for Burger King Corporation and a one time key executive with Dunkin' Donuts.)

Continually growing, Sid Feltenstein fueled the purchase of Long John Silver's, Inc. in 1999.