Restaurants

CiCi’s Pizza Corporate Office

CiCi’s Pizza is a buffet restaurant that specializes in pizza. It also offers salads and pasta dishes.

Joe Croce and Mike Cole founded CiCi’s Pizza in 1985 serving a family-friendly buffet featuring pizza, soup, pasta, salads, and desserts.

CiCi’s Pizza expanded through franchising and still actively seeks franchising partners. Approximately 98% of all restaurants are franchises.

By 2001 the restaurant chain had 380 restaurants.

Today CiCi’s Pizza has 600 franchised and corporately-owned restaurants in 35 states. The company has a special program for veterans who wish to own a franchise. CiCi’s Patriot Program is one of the industry’s most extensive programs benefiting U.S. veterans. This program waves the franchise fee for the first restaurant and offers a 50 percent royalty fee reduction for the first full year that the restaurant is in operation. This discount applies to all qualified, honorably discharged U.S. veterans. This allows veterans an approximate savings of $58,000.

CiCi’s Pizza has been named one of the top 25 performing brands by the Wall Street Journal and a top 200 franchise concept by Franchise Today. In March 2009 Men’s Health Magazine gave CiCi’s Pizza “top marks” for providing healthy food choices among its list of “66 major chain restaurants”.

The company plans to add another 500 locations in the next 10 years through franchising. In addition to its current US restaurants, in 2010, the company announced plans to add locations internationally, possibly in Canada and Mexico.

In 2015, the company decided to change its name to simply “CiCi’s” to avoid being thought of as merely a pizza restaurant. The company wants to focus on other items in their buffet type menu, such as salads and chicken wings.

Some locations were dinged by various health department code violations including one in Tennessee and another in Texas that received 17 code violations.

CiCi's Pizza

CiCi’s Pizza is a buffet restaurant that specializes in pizza. It also offers salads and pasta dishes.

History

Joe Croce and Mike Cole founded CiCi’s Pizza in 1985 serving a family-friendly buffet featuring pizza, soup, pasta, salads, and desserts.

CiCi’s Pizza expanded through franchising and still actively seeks franchising partners. Approximately 98% of all restaurants are franchises.

By 2001 the restaurant chain had 380 restaurants.

Some locations were dinged by various health department code violations including one in Tennessee and another in Texas that received 17 code violations.

Joe’s Crab Shack Corporate Office

Joe’s Crab Shack is a chain of beach-themed seafood restaurants.

The first Joe’s Crab Shack opened in Houston, Texas in 1991. In 1994 Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. bought the restaurant and within one year had grown to three locations.

In 2006 Joe’s was sold to J.H. Whitney & Company for $192 million. J.H. Whitney later changed its name to Ignite Restaurant Group.

Today Joe’s Crab Shack is a national chain with 110 restaurants in 28 states. The restaurants have a festive atmosphere and many are on waterfront property with large outdoor patios. Many include features such as playgrounds and arcades.

In June of 2017, the company filed for bankruptcy. Kelly Investment Group has offered $50 million for the chain, but there is no word yet as to whether this offer will be accepted.

While a few locations closed in 2020 due to the pandemic, new locations are being opened in 2021.

The corporate office for Joe’s Crab Shack remains in Houston, Texas.

Joe's Crab Shack

Joe’s Crab Shack is a chain of beach-themed seafood restaurants.

The first Joe’s Crab Shack opened in Houston, Texas in 1991. In 1994 Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. bought the restaurant and within one year had grown to three locations.

History

In 2006 Joe’s was sold to J.H. Whitney & Company for $192 million. J.H. Whitney later changed its name to Ignite Restaurant Group.

In June of 2017, the company filed for bankruptcy. Kelly Investment Group has offered $50 million for the chain, but there is no word yet as to whether this offer will be accepted.

While a few locations closed in 2020 due to the pandemic, new locations are being opened in 2021.

The corporate office for Joe’s Crab Shack remains in Houston, Texas.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill Corporate Office

Romano’s Macaroni Grill was founded by Texas restaurateur Philip J. Romano in 1998.

The next year the company sold franchise rights to Brinker International, Inc.

By 2007 Brinker had 230 company-owned stores.

In 2008 Brinker sold the majority stake in the chain to Mac Acquisitions, LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital.

In 2013 Ignite Restaurant Group acquired Romano’s Macaroni Grill in a $55 million cash transaction.

Ignite also operates Joe’s Crab Shack. Ignite Restaurant Group is owned by J.H. Whitney Capital Partners.

Today Romano’s Macaroni Grill serves food inspired by Italian trattoria cuisine at restaurants, through its website, and through its catering division.

Due to the coronavirus crisis of 2020, many restaurant locations were forced to close, while others were able to open sooner and returned to normal business.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill is owned by Redrock Partners and maintains a corporate office in Dallas, Texas.

Romano's Macaroni Grill

Romano’s Macaroni Grill was founded by Texas restaurateur Philip J. Romano in 1998.

History

The next year the company sold franchise rights to Brinker International, Inc.

By 2007 Brinker had 230 company-owned stores.

In 2008 Brinker sold the majority stake in the chain to Mac Acquisitions, LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital.

In 2013 Ignite Restaurant Group acquired Romano’s Macaroni Grill in a $55 million cash transaction.

Ignite also operates Joe’s Crab Shack. Ignite Restaurant Group is owned by J.H. Whitney Capital Partners.

Today Romano’s Macaroni Grill serves food inspired by Italian trattoria cuisine at restaurants, through its website, and through its catering division.

Due to the coronavirus crisis of 2020, many restaurant locations were forced to close, while others were able to open sooner and returned to normal business.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill is owned by Redrock Partners and maintains a corporate office in Dallas, Texas.

Boston Market Corporate Office

Boston Market was founded in Newton, Massachusetts in 1985 by Steven Kolow and Arthur Cores. The company was originally named Boston Chicken.

In 1993 Boston Chicken went public with 217 stores.

In 1995 the company changed its name to Boston Market.

Despite 1,100 restaurants and $1 billion in annual sales, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998 when its international expansion caused it to acquire too much high-interest debt.

In 2000 the McDonald’s Corporation acquired Boston Market, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary and closing 400 stores.

In 2007, with the number of stores stabilized at 500, McDonald’s Corporation sold the chain to Sun Capital Partners, a private equity firm.

Today Boston Market is a leader in quick-casual dining. The chain’s locations offer take-out and dine-in options, serving customers in cafeteria style. The company also sells frozen foods in supermarkets through a licensing partnership with H.J. Heinz.

As of 2022, Boston Market has 298 locations.

In August 2023, 27 locations in New Jersey closed unexpectedly over unpaid wages and other work-related issues.

The company also closed its last store in Buffalo, New York, earlier in August, signaling the company’s financial woes.

Boston Market maintains a corporate office in Golden, Colorado.

Boston Market

Boston Market was founded in Newton, Massachusetts in 1985 by Steven Kolow and Arthur Cores. The company was originally named Boston Chicken.

In 1993 Boston Chicken went public with 217 stores.

History

In 1995 the company changed its name to Boston Market.

Despite 1,100 restaurants and $1 billion in annual sales, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998 when its international expansion caused it to acquire too much high-interest debt.

In 2000 the McDonald’s Corporation acquired Boston Market, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary and closing 400 stores.

In 2007, with the number of stores stabilized at 500, McDonald’s Corporation sold the chain to Sun Capital Partners, a private equity firm.

As of 2022, Boston Market has 298 locations.

In August 2023, 27 locations in New Jersey closed unexpectedly over unpaid wages and other work-related issues.

The company also closed its last store in Buffalo, New York, earlier in August, signaling the company’s financial woes.

Boston Market maintains a corporate office in Golden, Colorado.

Firehouse Subs Corporate Office

In 1992 brothers Robin and Chris Sorensen were thinking about buying into a sandwich franchise when they were inspired to start their own business. Firehouse Subs was born.

The brothers were former firefighters and decided to make their sandwich shops have a firefighting theme – with Dalmatian-patterned tabletops, firefighting equipment, and sub names like Hook & Ladder.

Firehouse Subs expanded by franchising. The brothers maintain tight control over the organization and carefully vet franchise candidates and potential markets. Their focus on frugality and managed growth have led the company to success.

Today Firehouse Subs has more than 1,000 company-owned and franchised locations in 20 Southern states.

The company went international in 2015 with locations in Ontario, Canada.

In 2017, the company expanded into Mexico, launching 3 locations in and around Mexico City.

Firehouse Subs offers a grant program for various fire stations across the country. In January 2023, the grant gave $25,000 to a Pennsylvania fire department for bunker gear and equipment.

Firehouse Subs features hot and cold sub-style sandwiches as well as salads, soups, and sides. The company has headquarters located in Jacksonville, Florida.

Firehouse Subs

In 1992 brothers Robin and Chris Sorensen were thinking about buying into a sandwich franchise when they were inspired to start their own business. Firehouse Subs was born.

History

Today Firehouse Subs has more than 1,000 company-owned and franchised locations in 20 Southern states.

The company went international in 2015 with locations in Ontario, Canada.

In 2017, the company expanded into Mexico, launching 3 locations in and around Mexico City.

Firehouse Subs offers a grant program for various fire stations across the country. In January 2023, the grant gave $25,000 to a Pennsylvania fire department for bunker gear and equipment.

Firehouse Subs features hot and cold sub-style sandwiches as well as salads, soups, and sides. The company has headquarters located in Jacksonville, Florida.