Franchise

Au Bon Pain Corporate Office

Au Bon Pain was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1977 by Louis Rapuano. The company operates a chain of bakery/cafe’s which feature foods cooked with freshly made baked goods made at the restaurant. The name is French and roughly means “a place for good bread”.

The first location was in Boston’s Fanieul Hall and it featured a bakery with glass walls so customers could see their baked goods being made, a revolutionary concept in 1977. The company focus is on fresh baked goods, including croissants, bagels, pastries, and bread. In 2014, the company hired chef Katherine See as their head chef. The company is owned by LNK Management, a private equity firm, who acquired it in 2008.

As of 2014, the company had 243 locations, with 108 of these being franchised, as well as numerous locations in other countries, including India and Thailand. Most restaurants are found in hospitals, airports, shopping centers, and universities.

Au Bon Pain

History

MacKenzie River Pizza Corporate Office

MacKenzie River Pizza was founded in 1993 in Bozeman, Montana. From the single pizza restaurant, the company has grown substantially to 24 locations in 7 states, and more being developed each year. Franchising began in 1995.

The company offers much more than simply pizza, some newer locations are named MacKenzie River Pizza Grill and Pub. These locations offer an assortment of beer, sandwiches, salads, burgers, tacos, and flatbreads. Most locations have a “lumberjack”or woodland feel to them, with furnishings coming from beetle damaged pine trees and old whiskey barrels.

As of 2005, the company launched an eco-friendly program whereby the company focuses on being energy efficient and sustainable. All lights and computers are turned off at the close of the day, pre-consumer food waste is donated to feed animals, and water conservation is monitored.

MacKenzie River Pizza

History

Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery Corporate Office

Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery was founded in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2003 in the Las Vegas Rio Hotel by Mark DiMartino. The company operates a chain of sports bars/restaurants which feature scantily clad waitresses wearing very short kilts.

As of 2016, the company has grown to more than 106 locations and 27 more in the development stage. The restaurant serves a mix of Old English style food, such as fish and chips, along with a minimum of 24 types of beer on tap. Each location features games for patrons, such as darts or billiards, along with multiple televisions for watching sports. The waitresses sport plaid, tie top bras and mini-kilts.

Franchising began in 2005 and current owner Ron Lynch was featured in a 2012 episode of Undercover Boss on CBS.

Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery

Franchising began in 2005 and current owner Ron Lynch was featured in a 2012 episode of Undercover Boss on CBS.

History

Logan’s Roadhouse Corporate Office

Logan’s Roadhouse was founded in 1991 in Lexington, Kentucky. The company operates a chain of steak restaurants with retro-themed dining areas. The company is well known for using local artists to decorate their walls and for offering buckets full of peanuts as appetizers.

The company has been sold several times, most recently in 2010 to Kelso and Company, a private equity firm. As of August of 2016, there were 230 company owned restaurants and 26 franchise operations.

In August of 2016, the company announced that it would be filing for bankruptcy and closing 18 underperforming locations. Company spokespersons have stated that the company has had lackluster sales and mounting debt that made reorganization necessary.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, Logan’s again filed for bankruptcy in March 2020, and announced that, for the foreseeable future, all restuarants would remain closed.

Logan's Roadhouse

History

The company has been sold several times, most recently in 2010 to Kelso and Company, a private equity firm. As of August of 2016, there were 230 company owned restaurants and 26 franchise operations.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, Logan’s again filed for bankruptcy in March 2020, and announced that, for the foreseeable future, all restuarants would remain closed.

Carino’s Italian Restaurant Corporate Office

Carino’s Italian Restaurant was founded in 1997 by Norman Abdallah and Creed Ford III in Austin, Texas. The company is Fired Up, Inc, but does business under the Carino’s name.

The company operates a chain of casual Italian restaurants. The original name was Johnny Carino’s, which was changed in 2006 to Carino’s Italian Grill, then simply Carino’s Italian in 2009.

At its peak the company had 170 locations, most of them franchised, in 30 states. However, after filing for bankruptcy in 2014 and again in 2016, many of the locations closed permanently. Today, there are approximately 55 locations that are still open.

In October 2020, Famous Dave’s agreed to co-brand with Carino’s, allowing Carino’s to serve as ghost kitchens.

In late 2017, the company was acquired by Bluestone Holdings Group, LLC. Headquarters are located in Austin, Texas.

Carino's Italian Restaurant

Carino’s Italian Restaurant was founded in 1997 by Norman Abdallah and Creed Ford III in Austin, Texas. The company is Fired Up, Inc, but does business under the Carino’s name.

The company operates a chain of casual Italian restaurants. The original name was Johnny Carino’s, which was changed in 2006 to Carino’s Italian Grill, then simply Carino’s Italian in 2009.

History

In October 2020, Famous Dave’s agreed to co-brand with Carino’s, allowing Carino’s to serve as ghost kitchens.

In late 2017, the company was acquired by Bluestone Holdings Group, LLC. Headquarters are located in Austin, Texas.