Franchise

Ranch One Corporate Office

Ranch One was founded in 1988 by brothers Michael and Aaron Serruya. The first restaurant was opened in 1990 in New York City, next to the Ed Sullivan Theater. The original restaurant closed in 2008. The company specializes in grilled, marinated chicken sandwiches, wraps, strips, and salads.

At one time, the company had more than 100 franchises but today there appears to be only about a half dozen in three states along with a few locations in Kuwait. Ranch One operates as a subsidiary of Kahala Brands.

In 2001, co-owner and vice-chairman James Chickara and Sebastian Rametta, along with another executive of the company, pleaded guilty to stock fraud in connection with the Colombo mafia crime family. James Chickara was reportedly caught on tape by the FBI admitting that he used donations to Abraham Fruchthandler of the Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin orthodox Jewish university to launder money used to pay brokers who hyped up the stock of The Manhattan Soup Man.

Ranch One is hoping to open more locations in the very near future and appears to be actively seeking franchisees. Headquarters is now located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Ranch One

History

Ranch One is hoping to open more locations in the very near future and appears to be actively seeking franchisees. Headquarters is now located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

SmashBurger Corporate Office

Smashburger was founded in 2007 by Tom Ryan and Rick Schaden, and a little help from Consumer Capital Partners. Ryan had been in the restaurant business for many years, first working with McDonald’s and later, he helped Quizno’s roll out some of the most iconic sandwiches ever! What most people are unaware of is that Ryan has a PhD in flavor and fragrance. Using this knowledge, Ryan created a burger unlike any other.

The company began with one location in Denver, Colorado. Today, the company has more than 350 locations in 8 countries, as well as the US. The secret behind Smashburger is in the name. Each burger flavor has its own list of ingredients and is made the same way each time. An Angus chuck steak is ground down to a particular consistency, placed beneath a weight (smashed) and set on the griddle for 10 seconds. The weight is then removed and in another 90 seconds, the burger is done.

Besides smashing burgers, the company is perhaps best known for localized burger flavor that pertains to the region where the restaurant is located; Windy City Burgers and Sin City Burgers, for example. In addition to burgers, the company offers chicken sandwiches, milkshakes, fries, onion rings, and fried pickles. Beer and alcohol are also sold in most locations.

In 2015, Philipino based fast-food operator Jollibee Foods Corporation stated that they had acquired a 40% interest in the company for $335 million.

In early 2017, there was a shakeup in the executive structure of the company. At least 40 persons have been fired or asked to resign, including the CEO Michael Nolan and CFO Dennis Smythe. Reasons for the removal and change in management remains unclear.

Jollibee Foods Corporation announced in April of 2019 that they had now acquired a 100% share of Smashburger.

A Las Vegas, Nevada, Smashburger location demanded that a child’s service dog be removed from the building in June 2019. The corporate office for Smashburger stated that they are investigating the incident.

Smashburger

History

In 2015, Philipino based fast-food operator Jollibee Foods Corporation stated that they had acquired a 40% interest in the company for $335 million.

Jollibee Foods Corporation announced in April of 2019 that they had now acquired a 100% share of Smashburger.

Gus’s World Famous Chicken Corporate Office

Gus’s World Famous Chicken started out in 1957 when Napoleon Vanderbilt, and his wife Maggie, began playing with a fried chicken recipe which would soon become famous. In Mason, Tennessee, word of this super crunchy, spicy chicken quickly spread. Not able to afford a place of their own, the Vanderbilt’s were selling their chicken out the back door of a tavern.

Friends and customers encouraged the pair to open their own restaurant, but the Vanderbilt’s were of modest means. Finally, friends bought or donated the materials to build and Mr. Vanderbilt, along with more friends, worked to construct their own brick and mortar restaurant.

Mr. Vanderbilt’s only son, Vernon “Gus” Bonner took over the restaurant before his father’s death. Gus loved the business and he found a devoted follower with the current CEO Wendy McCrory. McCrory began franchising operations and has expanded the company from 2 locations to 22 locations in less than 5 years. Current plans are to expand at a rate of 5 to 10 franchises each year. McCrory has also stated that she has received requests about franchising in China and South America, though those plans have yet to be finalized.

Gus’s famous recipe is known to only a handful of persons. The frying batter is made behind locked doors in Mason, Tennessee, and is given to franchises in frozen batches. In addition to fried chicken, the company offers fried sweet potatoes, potato salad, fried green tomatoes, coleslaw and pecan pie.

Headquarters for the company as still located in Mason, Tennessee.

Gus's World Famous Chicken

History

Headquarters for the company as still located in Mason, Tennessee.

The Halal Guys Corporate Office

The Halal Guys was founded in 1990 by Egyptian immigrant Mohamed Abouelenein as a food cart on the corner of 53rd & 6th Street in New York City. The company was originally founded as a hot dog cart, but Abouelenein believed hot dogs were not really a complete meal and that Muslim taxi drivers were looking for Halal meals.

Today, the company has more than 200 mostly franchised locations in the US and globally. Some are still food carts and others are storefront style restaurants. The company has moved past hot dogs and now serves chicken or gyro meals served with rice and a red or white sauce. Customers have been known to stand for several hours to get one of these meals and Halal wraps continue to be the most popular item at the food carts.

The company opened 7 locations in 5 states, one in South Korea, the other in Canada. The Halal Guys headquarters is now located in Astoria, New York.

The Halal Guys

The company opened 7 locations in 5 states, one in South Korea, the other in Canada. The Halal Guys headquarters is now located in Astoria, New York.

History

Smithfield’s Chicken N Bar-B-Q Corporate Office

Smithfield’s Chicken N Bar-B-Q, opened in 1964 in Smithfield, North Carolina, under the name of Smithfield’s. As the company’s menu increased, the words chicken, and later, Bar-B-Q were added. The company operates a small chain of franchised restaurants in the state of North Carolina.

The company currently has 36 locations, most of them franchised. The company’s specialty is chicken, but also offers shrimp, sandwiches, stew, and hot dogs, along with banana pudding, pecan pie, coleslaw and hush puppies.

In 2007, CEO and owner Gregory Moore was sued for sexual harassment by a former employee. The court found Mr. Moore guilty and ordered him to pay $1.15 million. Two other former employees have since come forward stating that they were also fired when they rejected Mr. Moore’s advances.

The company was also recently in the spotlight when a video surfaced in April of 2017, showing the employees singing “F the Police” while the police were dining in the restaurant. This video was later removed and the Raleigh Police Chief stated that it the incidence was false.

Despite the coronavirus, the company is doing well, opening its 40th location in December 2020.

As of May 2023, the company continues to do well, opening new locations in North Carolina.

Smithfield’s Chicken and Bar-B-Que maintain a corporate office in Smithfield, North Carolina.

Smithfield's Chicken & Bar-B-Q

History

Despite the coronavirus, the company is doing well, opening its 40th location in December 2020.

As of May 2023, the company continues to do well, opening new locations in North Carolina.

Smithfield’s Chicken and Bar-B-Que maintain a corporate office in Smithfield, North Carolina.