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Asian Box- San Francisco, Calif.
Asian Box — a nine-unit, Vietnamese, healthy fast-casual brand — announced its foray into franchising at the National Restaurant Association Show in May, after more than a decade in the business. After some ups and downs — including store closures — the brand is looking to start over and has already opened and looked into nontraditional locations like a new store at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
Although no new franchisees have been announced yet, the company anticipates that it will start with a couple of agreements in 2023, and anticipates doubling year over year over the next five years. Currently, all of Asian Box’s locations are in Northern and Southern California, and the company would want to expand to new markets in the Western United States, including San Diego, Arizona, Colorado, and other areas in the Pacific Northwest.
The average check is $31 and average unit square footage is 1,200-square-feet.
Barry’s Cheesesteaks- Louisville, Ky.
Barry’s Cheesesteaks is an independent quick-service cheesesteak concept in Louisville that just announced franchising last fall. The company was started by Barry Washington, a former drug dealer and drug addict who opened his family-owned business with the intent of starting his life over.
The concept has a simple menu of eight Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks (with some unique additions and twists), as well as bowls and sides that are a nod to Southern roots.Although Barry’s has not yet signed its first franchisee, the goal is to find a like-minded individual, and interested parties have hailed from Indiana, New Jersey, Georgia, and Louisiana. The goals moving forward are to grow the brand nationally—Barry’s believes that cheesesteaks are a more unusual foodservice franchising category and that the brand would be filling in some white space in the industry.
For new locations-- both corporate and franchised—the Barry’s is looking to fill spaces of 1,300-1,800 square-feet.
Café 86- Chino Hills, Calif.
Café 86 is an ube-themed bakery and pastry shop with a focus on baked goods and drinks made with the bright purple yam that originated in the Philippines. With eight locations and two on the way, this California-based brand is looking to expand with the announcement of its franchising program in March.
The bakery-café was developed by Chopped champion, chef Ginger Lim-Dimapasok and offers unique and colorful culinary-minded creations like ube leche flank cupcakes, ube truffles, bread pudding, and milkshakes and milk teas.
“Cafe 86 has been known to be innovators in the industry when it comes to their one-of-a-kind selections of desserts and drinks,” a representative from the company said in a statement. “We provide our customers an extraordinary experience packed with culture, good vibes, great hospitality, and amazing products that will keep them coming back for more.”
Since March, Café 86 has had 10 franchisees sign up to open locations in the Southern California area, including Los Angeles. The goal is to open 20 more stores over the next year, and enter the Arizona market and eventually the East coast in the years following.
The average unit size is 950-square-feet, while average check ranges from $35-$60.
Five Iron Golf- New York, NY
Eatertainment is having a comeback post-pandemic and Five Iron Golf – a 19-unit, New York City-based driving range simulator-sans-casual dining establishment is cashing in on the trend. After receiving a minority investment from Callaway in 2021, the company is now ready to begin franchising and started looking for potential franchisees in both suburban and urban markets in May.
Currently Five Iron Golf is in the process of finalizing new franchising agreements, which include both domestic and international locations. The company anticipates opening 5-10 locations by the end of 2024, with a long-term goal of adding 5-10 new locations annually for a projected total of 50 units by 2028, with no particular markets in mind.
The average franchisee unit size will be 10-12,000-square feet and will serve locally sourced food, a full bar menu, and activities like golf simulation, lessons, events, a sports bar, and games like Foosball.
The Market Place- Pinehurst, N.C.
The Market Place is a North Carolina-based, independent gourmet sandwich shop that announced its intention to franchise in March. Known for its made-from-scratch creations and sandwiches served on butter croissants featuring ingredients like pimento, chutney, bacon and brie cheese, as well as homemade soups and platters, the shop is looking to expand throughout North and South Carolina.
The Market Place is working with Accurate Franchising to expand its presence and already has leads on potential franchisees though no signed agreements as of yet, with plans to sell four franchising agreements by the end of the year. The five-year goal is to sell five franchising agreements and have at least five open.
The average check for two people is $25 and the average unit size is 2,000 square feet with an accompanying patio.
Schmackary’s – New York, NY
Schmackary’s is a New York City-based cookie that has its roots in Broadway and New York’s theater district. After announcing its intention to franchise in May, the cookie brand best known for its wild flavors like moonpie, “cereal killer,” and hibiscus passionfruit, will plan to grow in the New York Metropolitan area and other theater hubs.
“Schmackary’s – endorsed by legends such as Kristin Chenoweth, Lin Manuel Miranda and even Cookie Monster himself – is not only Broadway’s favorite cookie but the next big concept in the dessert franchise space,” a Schmackary’s representative said. “Alongside its robust menu consisting of more than 85 lip schmackin’ cookie creations, the brand’s streamlined operations, low startup costs and square footage requirements, catering and delivery business and more make it the ideal concept for new and seasoned franchisees alike looking to back a brand that satisfies both the taste buds and the soul.”
The brand was the brainchild of Nebraska-born “theater kid” Zachary “Schmackary” Schmahl, and plans to grow to 500+ units over the next decade, starting in the Northeastern United States.
Average check is $12.50 and the original unit size is a petite 750-square-feet.
