Romano's Macaroni Grill has opened its second restaurant in Hawaii, this time in Queens' MarketPlace at Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island.

The restaurant, which opened yesterday, joins Macaroni Grill's Ala Moana location. Since opening more than two years ago, the Ala Moana restaurant has led the chain in sales, topping more than 220 locations across the U.S. and abroad. Randy Schoch, Hawai'i franchisee for Romano's Macaroni Grill, said sales at for the Waikoloa Beach Resort are also expected rank among the top Romano's locations.

Schoch is chief executive officer of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Desert Islands Restaurants, a management entity which oversees operations of the two Macaroni Grill locations and five franchised Ruth's Chris Steak Houses in Hawai'i. The company employs 450 throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and adds an additional 140 jobs with the opening of the new Romano's Macaroni Grill at Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Robert Keon has been named general manager for the new Romano's Macaroni Grill. He previously worked at Ruth's Chris Steak House at The Shops at Mauna Lani.