Award-winning Fast Casual Brand Targeting Five New Restaurants in Lake Villa, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Wheeling and Arlington Heights, IL
McAlister’s Deli, a leading fast casual chain, announced today it signed five franchise agreements with a new franchise group with plans to open restaurants in the Chicago market. Over the next four years, franchisees Syam and Geeta Thotakura will target Lake Villa, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Wheeling and Arlington Heights, Ill., to open five new locations.
“We have recently targeted Chicago as a key growth market for McAlister’s as we continue our expansion throughout the Midwest,” said McAlister’s Vice President of Franchise Development Jeff Sturgis. “Syam and Geeta bring strong multi-unit franchising backgrounds in fast-paced, high-volume QSR restaurants. We have no doubt they will excel as McAlister’s franchisees.”
Syam and Geeta Thotakura have owned and operated six Dunkin’ Donuts locations in the Chicago metropolitan area for the last 10 years.
“When it came time to expand our portfolio, McAlister’s was our top choice,” said Syam Thotakura. “The fast casual restaurant scene in Chicago’s suburbs is on the rise and we’re confident McAlister’s will be a welcome addition with its variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, spuds and McAlister’s Famous Sweet Tea™.”
In addition to the nine restaurants already open across Illinois, the first two Chicagoland McAlister’s are slated to open later this year at 2911 95th St, Suite 107, in Naperville and at 1492 S. Randall Road in Geneva.
Technomic® has recognized McAlister’s twice in its Consumers’ Choice Awards for Chain Restaurants — in 2015 as top fast casual chain for pleasant, friendly service and in 2014 as the top kid-friendly fast casual chain. Franchise Business Review named McAlister’s one of its “Best Franchise Opportunities for 2015” in its Franchisee Satisfaction Awards, as well as a “Top Franchise” in 2014 based on franchisee satisfaction. In 2015, Nation’s Restaurant News named McAlister’s the No.12 limited-service chain in its Consumer Picks Survey. FastCasual.com also recognized the brand on its “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” list of 2015. This year, QSR Magazine recognized the brand as one of the “Best Franchise Deals” and last year named McAlister’s to its QSR 50 list, ranking 13th for U.S. average sales per unit in 2013.
To learn more about franchising opportunities with McAlister’s, please contact (888) 855-DELI (3354) or franchising@mcalistersdeli.com, or visit www.mcalistersdelifranchise.com. This information is not intended as an offer to sell. We will not offer you a franchise until we have complied with disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction.
Founded in 1989, McAlister’s Deli is a fast casual restaurant chain known for its sandwiches, spuds, soups, salads, desserts and McAlister’s Famous Sweet Tea. In addition to dine-in and take-out service, McAlister’s also offers catering with a selection of sandwich trays, box lunches, desserts, a hot spud bar and more. With numerous industry accolades, the McAlister’s brand has 337 restaurants in 24 states. The company is headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga. For more information, visit www.mcalistersdeli.com.
Atlanta-based FOCUS Brands Inc. is the franchisor and operator of over 4,000 ice cream shoppes, bakeries, restaurants and cafes in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 60 foreign countries under the brand names Carvel, Cinnabon, Schlotzsky’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Auntie Anne’s and McAlister’s Deli, as well as Seattle’s Best Coffee on certain military bases and in certain international markets. Please visit www.focusbrands.com to learn more.
