Cheba Hut opens Norman shop, inks 8-unit Oklahoma development deal

Cheba Hut has signed an eight-unit area development agreement with franchise group WGT Concepts LLC. The agreement will expand the brand's footprint in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa markets.

The company said that Concepts plans to enter the Tulsa market beginning in 2027, though it didn't indicate how the units will be split between the two markets or give a timeline beyond Tulsa's 2027 start.

The deal, announced Nov. 5, coincided with the group's third shop opening at 1800 24th Ave., NW in Norman. The shop is just off Interstate 35, about 10 minutes from the University of Oklahoma campus and near much of the city's student housing. It has a patio and a full-service bar and is open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight. Like other Cheba Hut shops, it has custom local artwork, here by artist Joshua Finley, with a 1970s theme and references to the city.

WGT Concepts is led by Rose Taylor and Steven VanCauwenbergh. They opened Cheba Hut's first Oklahoma location, in Oklahoma City's Uptown District, in November 2024, and followed with Edmond on Aug. 31. The company said the Oklahoma City shop "became one of the brand's top-performing restaurants" but didn't release sales figures.

Taylor and VanCauwenbergh have backgrounds in hospitality, accounting and operations, and they own companies in the restaurant, professional services and investment sectors, according to a press release. Cheba Hut is their primary restaurant franchise.

"Rose and Steven understand what makes Cheba Hut click, and they've already proven they can bring it to life," Seth Larsen, chief development officer of Cheba Hut, said in a release.

"They've built a great operation, connected with their community and created the kind of environment that keeps guests coming back. As we continue growing across the country, we're looking for partners who can do exactly that."

Fort Collins, Colorado-based Cheba Hut operates more than 80 locations in 17 states.