Denver — Modern Market Eatery, a better-for-you fast-casual dining brand, expanded its presence in 2023, opening restaurants in new and current markets, including its first new franchised location and drive-thru restaurant. The brand continues to expand in 2024 with 42 locations slated to open over the next 6-7 years. In addition to new growth, the brand started its first extensive remodel project in brand history, which will update all of its legacy Colorado restaurants.
In 2023, the brand opened three new restaurants, which included the following:
• One new company-owned location in Aurora, Colo., in March.
• The brand’s first ever drive-thru restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colo., in November.
• The brand’s first franchised restaurant, owned by multi-unit franchisor Thrive Restaurant Group, in Kansas City, Mo., in December, with plans to open seven additional locations in Kansas City over the next 6-7 years.
• A new value-engineered restaurant buildout, which reduced construction costs by almost 15%.
In addition to opening its Kansas City location, Thrive Restaurant Group purchased three company-owned Modern Market Eatery locations and has plans to open 39 more over the next several years in seven distinct markets.
“Through working with our first franchisee, Thrive Restaurant Group, we were able to further expand our mission to make fast, healthy eating more affordable and accessible to families nationwide in 2023,” says Rob McColgan, co-founder and president of Modern Market Eatery. “We feel inspired by this past year’s growth and are taking the momentum into 2024 with new market entries, higher unit counts and a new restaurant design that will lower construction costs to spur new development.”
The brand continues to expand from coast to coast with targeted goals to recruit new franchisees in Salt Lake City; Houston; Phoenix; Nashville, Tenn.; Atlanta; Chicago; Minneapolis; Columbus, Ohio; Tucson, Ariz.; Dallas; and more.
“In addition to our priority markets, our growth strategy also prioritizes potential franchisees not by location, but by existing multi-unit restaurant experience and culture fit regardless of where they want to open restaurants,” says Chris Cheek, chief development officer of Modern Market Eatery. “This approach has allowed us to thoughtfully expand and ensure that new franchisees are supported and find success in their markets.”
Modern Market Eatery was launched in Boulder, Colo., in 2009. Today it has nearly 30 locations across Colorado, Texas, Arizona and Kansas as well as the Denver International Airport and the campus of Notre Dame. For more information, visit www.modernmarket.com and www.modernmarket.com/franchise.
Modern Restaurant Concepts is one of the largest fast-casual restaurant platforms in North America with nearly 800 units across two brands: QDOBA and Modern Market Eatery. The system operates company-owned and franchised units across nearly every U.S. state as well as Canada and Puerto Rico.
SOURCE: Modern Market Eatery