STRATEGIC PARTNERS
October 19, 2017
Arby's has set its eyes on Chicago in a big way, with brand leadership saying that the Windy City is a priority growth market for the chain. The company plans to triple its current 64-store footprint there, beginning with signed development agreements for 25 new stores in five years, a news release said. That translates to 700 new jobs for the city and its residents.
Development agreements were signed with Pete Lyders-Petersen for 20 restaurants in the northern and northwestern suburbs. Faisal Merchant will open five stores downtown and in the southwestern suburbs. Both are new franchisees to the brand, which has an AUV of $1.12 million, up 27 percent since 2013.
"We know how to develop strong-performing restaurants in large urban markets," Arby's Restaurant Group CDO Greg Vojnovic, said in the release.
Merchant currently operates 19 Dunkin' Donuts stores and three Wingstop stores in Chicago; Petersen operates nearly 200 Taco Bell restaurants and 12 KFC restaurants across the Midwest.
"Every Arby's franchisee I've spoken with loves the brand's culture, and I'm excited to be a part of it," Merchant said in the release.
Restaurant development is a top priority for Arby's. The brand has been working with franchisees to aggressively expand in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia and Seattle.
