Franchising

Bobby’s Burgers fuels Chicago expansion with multi-unit development deal

Provided

April 5, 2023

Bobby's Burgers by Bobby Flay is coming to the Windy City, thanks to a deal with Well Done Hospitality Group, owned by Jonas Falk and Justin Rolls. The deal will bring several locations and also the debut of the brand's first traditional, streetside restaurant model.

"Bobby Flay has always been a hero of mine, so it's such a unique opportunity to be able to serve menu items that he has conceptualized and created in an approachable platform for our guest," said Falk, the CEO and chairman of OrganicLife LLC, in a press release. OrganicLife is one of the largest food management companies in the world.

"First and foremost, the food is simply amazing — from the savory burgers and sides to the spoon-bending milkshakes, there are a variety of unique flavors infused in every bite. In addition to this, we knew that the QSR and fast casual restaurant format would be a home run in the Chicago market.

"The convenience and approachability that the model encapsulates ensure that guests will have an exceptional experience with each visit. From an operational standpoint, the streamlined operations and flexible footprint allows for efficiency in both the front and back-of-house, giving us the ability to serve guests their food made-to-order in minutes. As we continue seeking a neighborhood to launch our first location, we are dialed in and looking forward to being the first group to bring Bobby's Burgers by Bobby Flay to Chicago."

Flay said he is a fan of the food scene in Chicago and was looking forward to bringing his brand to a variety of neighborhoods.

"I'm committed to delivering burger lovers our unique hand-crafted menu that we consider the best in its category and can't wait for the restaurants to open and serve those in Chicago for many years to come," he said in the release.

Bobby's Burgers, which has six locations, has launched its U.S. and international franchise expansion plan, developing traditional restaurant settings in urban and suburban neighborhoods and has plans for growing into non-traditional venues such as airports, military bases and casinos.

"At the end of the day, what makes our concept the most unique is the hand-crafted menu that was conceptualized and executed by the world-class chef, Bobby Flay, himself. Guests will have the chance to enjoy exceptional, high-quality dining, but in fast casual format," Michael McGill, president of ICBB, the company that licenses Bobby's, said in the release. "Chicago has been a key target for us since launching our franchise initiative, and we are thrilled that it has come to fruition. Jonas and his team are the exact type of franchisee that we are seeking to join our brand, and we are looking forward to him spearheading Bobby's Burgers development in Chicago. And of course, we can't wait to treat guests in Chicago with our craveable menu and delicious burgers."

The brand is targeting franchise growth in Charlotte, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City and Atlanta.