Franchise

Winmark Corporate Office

In 1983, Martha Morris was operating a small used sporting goods store in Minneapolis, Minnesota, called Play It Again Sports. She was a client of a consulting firm run by Ron Olson and Jeffrey Dahlberg. When Morris told the pair that she wanted to make her company a franchise, they had their doubts, however, after a surprise visit to the store, Olson and Dahlberg found more than 10 people waiting in line before the store had even opened.

In 1988, Olson and Dahlberg acquired the store from Morris. Play It Again Sports was the first franchise operation for what would become the Winmark Corporation.

The company went public on the NASDAQ in 1993 and is now listed under the ticker symbol WINA. Winmark owns 5 franchised based companies, all of which sell used goods including Music Go Round, Play It Again Sports, Once Upon a Child, Style Encore, and Plato’s Closet. The company also owns Wirth Business Credit, a small business supply leasing company.

In February 2018, the company listed their year-end sales results for 2017 as $24.565 million and $5.66 per share.

Headquarters for the company are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company maintains a $1 billion market share in a $17 billion industry through its 1,170 franchised operations.

Winmark

In 1988, Olson and Dahlberg acquired the store from Morris. Play It Again Sports was the first franchise operation for what would become the Winmark Corporation.

History

In February 2018, the company listed their year-end sales results for 2017 as $24.565 million and $5.66 per share.

Headquarters for the company are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company maintains a $1 billion market share in a $17 billion industry through its 1,170 franchised operations.

Pet Supplies Plus Corporate Office

Pet Supplies Plus was founded in 1988 in Redford, Michigan, by Harry Shallop and Jack Berry. This pair of businessmen wanted their pet food and supply store to be more like grocery stores, such as offering wide aisles and display shelves that were full and organized.

This new idea in pet stores was an immediate success. The company offered conveniences that many people wanted, including large parking lots, longer hours of operation, helpful staff, and a wide variety of items to choose from.

Within 5 years, the company opened an additional 30 locations. Franchising began in 1990.

In 2010, the company was purchased by the private equity group Irving Place Capital.

The company currently has 400 locations in 21 states. Many locations offer self-serve dog washes and grooming stations. Pets on a leash are allowed inside the stores.

While online sales of pet items are rising, Pet Supplies Plus remains one of the few pet stores to see sales revenue increasing as many customers want to touch and feel products for their pets before purchasing them.

Company headquarters are located in Livonia, Michigan.

Pet Supplies Plus

History

Within 5 years, the company opened an additional 30 locations. Franchising began in 1990.

In 2010, the company was purchased by the private equity group Irving Place Capital.

The company currently has 400 locations in 21 states. Many locations offer self-serve dog washes and grooming stations. Pets on a leash are allowed inside the stores.

Company headquarters are located in Livonia, Michigan.

Gatti’s Pizza Corporate Office

Colonel Eure and his wife Patti, opened a pizza and hamburger restaurant in his hometown of Stephenville, Texas after Mr. Eure retired. The couple moved a few years later to Austin, Texas, and opened another restaurant under the name The Pizza Place.

Unhappy with the generic sounding name, Colonel Eure held a naming contest. Eventually, the Colonel chose his wife’s maiden name of Gatti for the restaurant.

Colonel Eure sold 18 of his locations in 1974 but kept a few locations for himself. The company has changed hands several times over the years and currently is owned by Blue Sage Capital.

The company currently has 140 locations across the US. Some locations are branded as GattiTown or Gatti-Land. In addition to pizza, GattiTown locations offer arcades, games such as foosball or air hockey, bumper cars and miniature bowling or miniature golf.

Company headquarters are located in Austin, Texas.

Gatti's Pizza

History

Unhappy with the generic sounding name, Colonel Eure held a naming contest. Eventually, the Colonel chose his wife’s maiden name of Gatti for the restaurant.

Colonel Eure sold 18 of his locations in 1974 but kept a few locations for himself. The company has changed hands several times over the years and currently is owned by Blue Sage Capital.

Company headquarters are located in Austin, Texas.

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom Corporate Office

Back in 1976, two friends in Colorado decided that they really missed old fashioned Chicago style pizza and decided to open their own restaurant. Originally named Old Chicago Pasta & Pizza, the restaurant chain was an immediate success.

The company was sold in 2013 to Craftworks Restaurant & Breweries, who changed the name to Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom. With 94 locations in 22 states, the company recently decided to open the business to franchising, with plans to open at least 28 restaurants in an additional 8 states.

Old Chicago Pizza is best known for their round, thick crust style pizza and craft beer selection. In 2017, the company added a lower priced appetizer selection, as well as increased their wing selection from 4 to 10 different flavors.

Old Chicago Pizza had annual revenue in 2016 of $254 million. Headquarters are now located in Broomfield, Colorado.

Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom

History

Old Chicago Pizza had annual revenue in 2016 of $254 million. Headquarters are now located in Broomfield, Colorado.

Wild Wing Cafe Corporate Office

Wild Wing Cafe was founded in 1990 in Hilton Head, South Carolina, by Cecil & Diane Crowley. After hosting numerous Super Bowl parties at their house, the couple decided to open a restaurant which featured their beloved chicken wing recipes.

The company began with a single location and 8 different sauces. On their first day of business, the company actually ran out of food due to unexpected crowds.

Unlike many restaurants at the time, Cecil and Diane insisted on using fresh ingredients, rather than relying on frozen or prepackaged sauces. Most of the sauces were the Crowley’s own recipes, so the ingredients are kept under wraps.

In addition to wings with 33 different sauces, the company offers a variety of other foods, including soups, salads, wraps, burgers, and a host of sandwiches, as well as wide range of draft beers. Almost all locations offer free live music 7 days a week.

As of 2017, the company has 47 locations in 10 states, as well as plans to double the number of locations by 2020, according to CEO Tom Lewison.

In January of 2012, a majority interest in the chain was secured by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Axum Capital Partnership, an investment company. The Crowley retains part ownership in the company.

In 2021, the company announced that it was planning for a major expansion in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area.

In 2023, the chain has closed several locations without comment and without warning.

Headquarters for the chain are located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

Wild Wing Cafe

The company began with a single location and 8 different sauces. On their first day of business, the company actually ran out of food due to unexpected crowds.

History

As of 2017, the company has 47 locations in 10 states, as well as plans to double the number of locations by 2020, according to CEO Tom Lewison.

In January of 2012, a majority interest in the chain was secured by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Axum Capital Partnership, an investment company. The Crowley retains part ownership in the company.

In 2021, the company announced that it was planning for a major expansion in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area.

In 2023, the chain has closed several locations without comment and without warning.

Headquarters for the chain are located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.