Doherty Enterprises, Inc. was established in 1985 and is the 12th largest franchisee in the United States, operating four restaurant concepts including: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Panera Bread, Chevys Fresh Mex, and their own concept, The Shannon Rose Irish Pub.

But it didn't start there.

In 1985 Edward Doherty stepped out on his own with a vision - "To Be The Best Food Service Company in The Tri-State Area. He acquired 19 Roy Rogers restaurants from Marriott Corporation becoming Roy Rogers' largest franchisee. From 1985 through 1990, Doherty Enterprises grew to own 28 Roy Rogers and 6 T.J. Cinnamons Bakeries.

In 1991, Edward Doherty chose to reposition the company to continue its growth. It is in this year that the company obtained the rights to develop Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants in northern and central New Jersey. Doherty Enterprises' first Applebee's was opened in Piscataway, NJ in 1993. In 1998, they purchased six existing Applebee's on Long Island with the rights for further development. In total Doherty Enterprises operates 61 Applebee's in New Jersey and Long Island.

In 1999, Doherty Enterprises opened its first Chevys Fresh Mex restaurant. They currently own and operate three Chevys in New Jersey.

In 2001, Doherty Enterprises entered into a development plan with Panera Bread Bakery-Cafe within Long Island. They also gained the territory to develop Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. Currently Doherty Enterprises owns and operates 28 bakery-cafes.

2007 was a big year for Doherty Enterprises when they opened up their first independent concept in Clifton, New Jersey - The Shannon Rose Irish Pub. The success of the Clifton location resulted in a second Shannon Rose Irish Pub opening in Woodbridge, New Jersey in 2009 and a third pub opening in Ramsey, New Jersey in 2012.

To date, Doherty Enterprises owns and operates 96 restaurants in northern and central New Jersey, Long Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens. The Doherty vision is to be the "Best Food Service Company in the Tri-State Area" and its mission is to "Wow Every Guest Every Time, Wow Our People, Wow Our Communities and Wow Our Suppliers." We continue to have an aggressive development plan for all of our concepts over the next few years to continue our growth in the market.