— Interview with Jeff Crivello — Famous Dave’s expands its first line-service model and even adds a drive-thru as it grows through ghost kitchens, virtual brands, dual concepts, and strategic acquisitions of complementary brands. Nearly 30 years after the first Famous Dave’s opened in Hayward, Wisconsin, BBQ Holdings, Inc. continues to innovate and invigorate. Testing new prototype designs — including its first drive-thru model — and acquiring complementary brands are just two of the ways in which Famous Dave’s propels its impressive growth trajectory. In mid-March, Retail & Restaurant …
Granite City
Minnetonka, Minn. — BBQ Holdings, Inc., the multi-brand restaurant company behind concepts such as Famous Dave’s and Granite City Food and Brewery, and the newly acquired Village Inn and Bakers Square, has hired Manny Packing as the brand’s new vice president of franchise sales and real estate. Most recently, Packing was the director of international real estate and construction for Inspire Brands, the owner and franchisor of several legacy franchise brands, including Arby’s, Sonic Drive-In, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins. While there, Packing was responsible for onboarded new franchisees and led efforts …
Famous Dave’s to Debut Drive-Thru and New Quick ‘Que Models in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas
Minnetonka, Minn. — Famous Dave’s, the fast-growing barbeque franchise with 134 restaurants across the country, is bringing its counter and line-serve “Quick ‘Que” prototypes to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. The Las Vegas location — a line-serve model — will open on Paradise Road, just a few blocks from the Las Vegas Strip, in early June. The Salt Lake City restaurant — a counter-serve model with a drive-thru — will open on South State Street in June. Both restaurant models boast small footprints with the goal of a quicker …