Two Great Steak franchise owners opening two new locations by years end

The premier cheesesteak franchise ends banner year on a bright note with two new restaurant openings in Illinois and Virginia

Two Great Steak franchise owners are planning on opening two new locations in Illinois and Virginia, just in time for the holidays. The two cheesesteak franchisees will see the brand expand its foothold in the Chicago area, where Great Steak has one location open, and in Rothdale, Virginia, where Great Steak has four locations open in The Old Dominion.

Founded by two Ohio brothers who fell in love with the sandwich on a trip to Philadelphia in 1982, Great Steak has since grown to more than 100 locations across the nation. Our simple menu focuses on cheesesteaks, both classic and innovative, and our commitment to the cheesesteak has won a rapidly growing customer base that is composed of both hardcore cheesesteak purists and the more casual enjoyers of the sandwich.

“It’s very validating for us that Great Steak franchise owners are reinvesting in the brand,” says Walter Mejia, Vice President of Operations for Great Steak. “For us, it proves that our concept is easy to own and easy to scale. The location in Virginia will be traditional for us, in a shopping center. The Chicago-area restaurant is nontraditional, and will be placed within a gas station. This is the second Great Steak to exist in the gas station model, and it proves that our brand is unique enough to fit anywhere. In the past, we’ve done stadiums and arenas, even though we’re very well known for being located in mall food courts. Great Steak really works well in any setting.”

Great Steak offers two affordable business models. Our franchise owners produce average revenues in excess of $466,000 a year, according to Item 19 disclosures in our latest FDD.

We offer two unique franchise models for the savvy entrepreneur or the aspiring restauranteur. For those individuals seeking to bring cheesesteak sandwiches to their neighborhood, we offer the in-line restaurant model with an initial investment beginning at $129,200.

No mall food court is complete without an authentic cheesesteak sandwich shop, and Great Steak is the best choice for shopping malls and strip centers from coast to coast with our food court franchise model. Initial investment for the food court model begins at $146,600.

“Great Steak has two franchise models, which are smart investments for entrepreneurs who are passionate about cheesesteaks,” says Ben Woodruff, franchise development manager with Great Steak. “Great Steak is a business you can run with your family, and be supported every step of the way by a global franchising giant. We have relationships with malls, and we have dedicated real estate teams; we are careful to choose markets where the desire for cheesesteaks is there already. We want our Great Steak franchise owners to be successful and spread their love of cheesesteaks with their communities.”

Great Steak is rapidly expanding across the country. In 2016, Great Steak refocused its efforts on franchise expansion, creating a new franchise development website for entrepreneurs passionate about cheesesteaks who want a detailed overview of the Great Steak franchise opportunity. The industry has taken notice: Franchise Times, a national publication dedicated to helping entrepreneurs connect with franchise systems, recently named Great Steak to their prestigious annual Top 200+ list.

“Our brand has been around for several decades, and we’ve always believed that the quality of food and the Great Steak experience could compete with anyone,” Walter says. “It’s very nice to receive validation from the industry. The wave of enthusiasm that Great Steak is experiencing now is fueling our expansion plans for 2017, where we hope to open 10 new locations. We’re focusing on expanding our foothold in California, Texas and Virginia, as well as potentially opening multiple locations in Indiana. We expect 2017 to be extremely busy as far as growth is concerned.”

Ready to open a Great Steak franchise in your community?

Great Steak is a low-cost investment opportunity; the startup costs for traditional stores range from $146,600 to $511,050. Having sold millions of cheesesteaks since our founding in 1982, Great Steak has an experienced business model for entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing the classic American cheesesteak experience to their communities. The franchise fee for your first traditional Great Steak franchise is $30,000, and the franchise fee for multiple units may be discounted if certain conditions and criteria are met.