Franchising

Brown Bag Seafood swimming into Charlotte

Provided

November 24, 2021

Chicago-based Brown Bag Seafood Co. is opening four locations next year, including its first restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 10-unit concept, known for its quick, fresh and sustainably sourced seafood, will also continue to expand in Chicagoland and Atlanta, Founder and CEO Donna Lee said in a company press release.

"There's no doubt the last year and a half has presented our entire industry with a whole slate of new challenges, but we've used the time to strengthen our operations, invest in our people, sharpen the entire guest experience," she said. "We are more poised than ever to become the national leader in our category."

Brown Bag is entering the Charlotte market by inking deals at Lowe's Global Technology Center in South End and along Tryon Street at the newly developed Ally Charlotte Center in Uptown. Both projects will offer in-store and patio seating, as well as take-out, pickup and delivery.

"Having seen the success we've had in Atlanta, we're thrilled to be continuing our expansion in the Southeast," Zach Flanzman, Brown Bag's president and COO, said in the release. "Charlotte is a vibrant, growing city, and we think we can really add something new and unique to its great food scene and culture."

Meanwhile, Brown Bag will open its third Atlanta restaurant at the mixed-use redevelopment, Ashford Lane, in Central Perimeter. With existing locations at Colony Square in Midtown and Westside Provisions District in West Midtown, the brand will widen its reach next spring with a 1,576-square-foot site offering limited in-store seating as well as an 800-square-foot patio.

"We love the vision at Ashford Lane and are excited to be a part of its reimagination," said Lee. "It's a fantastic way to bring our brand to the Perimeter market. We've been fortunate to be a part of several transformative projects, and they're always special."

Closer to home, Brown Bag will debut its first suburban Chicagoland location at The Shoppes on Washington, a mixed-use center in Naperville. Projected to open mid-year 2022, the 2,590-square-foot restaurant will seat roughly 40 inside with more space on its outdoor patio.

"We couldn't be happier with this site as a way to introduce ourselves to a whole new customer base," Flanzman said. "While we have great brand awareness in Naperville from our downtown locations, we think this location will really demonstrate the versatility of the concept and open up a whole new avenue of growth for our brand."

At Brown Bag, guests fill out laminated menu cards to customize their meals as they order at the counter. Customers may select from a wide variety of responsibly sourced seafood, such as grilled salmon, shrimp, or its rotating daily catch, and then choose one of the concept's creative "builds," including tacos, salads, sandwiches and grain and veggie bowls.

The menu also features the Lobster Roll with Truffle Parmesan Tots and Fish & Chips, alongside made-from-scratch New England clam chowder and an array of housemade sides, slaws, veggies and sauces. For the less seafood-inclined, chicken, vegetarian and vegan options are also available, along with gluten-free, dairy-free and other allergen-friendly choices. Restaurants are open for lunch and dinner.

Founded in 2014, Brown Bag partners with the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program, committing to serving only sustainably sourced seafood. The chain further prioritizes environmental responsibility by striving to be a zero-waste restaurant, using fully compostable packaging, and recycling its used oil into biodiesel fuel. Additionally, the brand prides itself on forming local partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and other charitable organizations in the communities it serves, according to the release.