Republican front running presidential candidate Mitt Romney apparently has a back-up plan. Several business associates of the former Governor have confirmed that investors are putting in place a plan for a chain of Romney Restaurants, in the event that Mr. Romney does not win the general election. One source with long time business connections to Governor Romney confided to Downs International that Romney met with investors at late as January, 2012 and advised them to go “full steam ahead” on plans to build 13 to 18 family restaurants in New England states.

The restaurants are reportedly the brain child of Romney advisor Glenn Hubbard, who has been cagey with reporters about the deal since last November. Hubbard does not deny the existence of the plans, but in response to reporters’ questions has said, “Among the Governor’s many areas of business expertise is the restaurant business, as you know. However, Governor Romney is focusing on the election, pure and simple.” Some have seen this as a winking confirmation, as one of the names in circulation for the restaurant chain is, “Romney’s Pure and Simple Family Buffet.” Other names rumored to be under consideration include “Seamus and Andy,” a play on “Amos and Andy,” an old TV show popular with the Romney family, with Mitt Romney’s dog’s name, Seamus, replacing Amos.

It is not known whether alcohol would be served at the proposed establishments. Governor Romney’s Mormon faith prohibits him from drinking alcohol. Speculation on the menu of the restaurants has been rampant among reporters covering the Romney campaign, a difficult subject to get a handle on because Mr. Romney has repeatedly changed his descriptions of his “favorite foods” as he travels from region to region. In Iowa, Mr. Romney claimed that “corn fritters are my absolute favorite. I just love them,” whereas in South Carolina Governor Romney stated that the local specialty of boiled peanuts was, “absolutely my favorite.”

Rumors of the restaurants first bubbled up after the Iowa caucus was declared a win for Santorum and Governor Romney’s momentum seemed to be slowing as he headed toward the early primaries. Notably, Romney has repeatedly told reporters covering the campaign that, “You always have to have a back up plan.”