1 5
1 5
Bombshells – the 10-unit, military-themed restaurant bar and grill known for its patriotic sports bar atmosphere and waitstaff known as “Bombshell girls,” modeled after World War II-era pinup girls — announced their first franchisee in December 2020. The RCI Holdings Company’s first franchisee agreed to open three new locations in the San Antonio over the next five years, and also signed right of first refusal for three more locations in Corpus Christi, New Braunfels, and San Marcos.
With the new locations, Bombshells will be in the four largest metropolitan areas in Texas, with additional plans for 10 more company-owned locations, with initial market targets in Houston and Dallas and South Florida, which would be the company’s first out-of-state location.
“We have spent more than seven years carefully developing a successful and repeatable concept,” David Simmons, RCI Management’s director of restaurant operations said in a statement. “Today’s agreement is a monumental step for our brand, company, and each person involved in the development of Bombshells. It is also the first step in our quest for more multi-unit operators to expand Bombshells into new markets.”
The average Bombshells unit is 7,500-10,000 square feet and the menu has military-themed food and drink, including wings, burgers, ribs and sandwiches, for an average entrée price of $15.
Indian street food fast casual chain Curry Up Now first announced their expansion plans in early 2020. Now, nearly a year into the pandemic, the San Francisco-based concept that started as a food truck has 13 locations (three of which have attached bars called Mortar & Pestle) with 50+ locations in the works in major markets around the country.
Curry Up Now signed a franchise agreement in November to bring six new Curry Up Now locations to the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin areas. They anticipate a March opening for the first of these location, in Dallas. This location will feature the attached Mortar & Pestle bar, with the other five to follow in the coming months in Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth.
The next round of franchised restaurants in Texas will be opening in summer 2021 in the Richardson, Frisco, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas.
“I want to create the biggest and baddest Indian food brand,” CEO Akash Kapoor said.
The company is actively seeking new franchisees across multiple markets in the United States. Unit size ranges from 1,200 to 3,200 square feet, and average checks for the Indian fusion food including tikka masala burritos and kathi rolls range from $22-$37 depending on if the restaurant has a bar at the location or not.
Snowy River Cocktail Co. is a hybrid cocktail decorating franchise and cocktail bar. Headquartered in Washington, the cocktail decorating company uses their two bar locations in Belltown and Bellingham to showcase their wholesale products.
The cocktail bar and decorating franchise was launched in 2020 by co-owners CEO Stuart Cutler and Sue-Ellen Cutler. Previously, the company only manufactured cocktail decorating products for wholesale and private events, using products like colored sugars, salts, and glitter to create unique drinks. At their bars, Snowy River Cocktail Co. showcases colorful creations like a Maple Bacon Martini lined with bacon salt or a neon green Bellingham sunrise.
This unique cocktail bar is working with FranSmart to find franchisees in New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Miami, and they are also looking to open new corporate locations in Washington and Oregon. The goal is to have 20 bars open by the end of 2022.
“Our bars serve as showcase locations for our cocktails and decorating products,” Stuart Cutler told Restaurant Hospitality. “A place where customers can delight in beautifully designed drinks and then purchase product to take home for their own bars.”
The average size of their bars is 2,500 square feet while the average check is $30 per person, though that might change after the pandemic ends.
The 17-unit, Louisiana-based quick-service chain, Southern Classic Chicken — another Southern comfort food chain with a focus on fried chicken — announced franchising in October. Although there are no deals signed yet, the chain currently has locations in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, and plans to grow over the next five years across the Southeast, particularly in the Mississippi and Florida markets.
“Our priority is growing at a comfortable pace where we can get to know franchisees personally and ensure that they are the perfect fit for the brand, so we don’t want to put out projection numbers because, for us, it’s about quality, not quantity,” Nick Binnings, director of brand development at Southern Classic Chicken told Restaurant Hospitality.
Every Southern Classic Chicken features a walk-up and drive-thru store model that has been particularly popular and efficient during the pandemic. The average meal for chicken and side dishes (like grits, mashed potatoes, and Cajun rice) ranges from $5-$7.
The company is owned and founded by CEO Brandon Fanning, with an average check of $12 and an average unit size of 1,400-square-feet for drive-thru-only units.
Sweet Paris Creperie — a Houston-based French creperie chain with 10 U.S. units and 1 in Mexico — announced that the company would begin franchising in November. Known for both sweet crepes (like Nutella and s’mores) and savory crepes (like chicken Florentine and Philly cheesesteak), Sweet Paris Creperie has a goal of entering major markets across the country and internationally with the help of Strategic Partners franchising company.
Currently, the company — founded by owners Allison and Ivan Chavez — has one franchised store deal signed in Oklahoma City and another in Tulsa, with three more stores pending in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. They are also looking for franchisees in Las Vegas, Arizona, Colorado, Chicago, and Florida.
“Sweet Paris is the world’s most beautiful and delicious creperie, reviving the art of eating crepes with a first-to-market franchise opportunity,” a representative for Sweet Paris Creperie told Restaurant Hospitality. “The restaurant’s delicious, beautifully plated dishes and decadent, Instagram-worthy interiors set it apart from other concepts.”
The average check is $900 and average unit size is 2,200 square feet.
