Cody’s Original Roadhouse, a 12-unit casual-dining chain in Florida, is planning expansion in the state under new ownership.
The Clearwater, Fla.-based chain signed its first master franchise deal with Allen Musikantow, who will expand the Cody’s brand in the central and north Florida markets, Mark Weber, Cody’s president and one of its new owners, told NRN this week. Musikantow already operates Cody’s restaurants in three communities in central Florida.
Weber and partner Franck Maigne, a longtime Cody’s franchisee in Crystal River, Fla., bought stakes in the 17-year-old chain in December 2010. Marion Davidson, one of Cody’s co-founders and a former partner in the Brown Derby restaurants, remains an owner in the brand. Cody’s other co-founder, Nick Kapioltas, has sold his share.
Weber said Cody’s will open more corporate stores and is targeting the Sarasota-Fort Myers-Naples areas of southwest Florida for expansion. Currently, all but one of Cody’s 12 stores are franchised.
Cody’s has systemwide sales of $38 million and has seen same-store sales rise 3.7 percent so far in 2011 after increases of 3.2 percent in 2010 and 4.1 percent in 2009.
Weber said Cody’s marketing is focused on value in order to compete with bigger chain rivals like LongHorn Steakhouse and Outback Steakhouse.
“What Cody’s does different is that we’re $2 to $4 less per meal than LongHorn and Outback steakhouses,” Weber said.
Contact Alan Snel at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @AlanSnelNRN