Ford’s Garage will be bringing its iconic branding and distinctive eating practical experience to new markets in the following many months
The organization was established a 10 years back by Mike McGuigan and Daniel Kearns in Fort Myers, Florida, a lot less than a mile away from Henry Ford’s winter season dwelling. In accordance to Ford’s Garage President Steve Shlemon, the two founders were being now fans of Ford cars and trucks and experienced a vision of a restaurant with the aesthetic of a 1930s gasoline station.
Because then, the brand has expanded to 17 locations, all of them operated by franchisees, and Ford’s Garage has plans for eight to 10 new eating places nationwide by the close of the year. In the adhering to a long time, the intention is to open up 10 to 15 new destinations on a yearly basis.
States targeted for franchise enlargement involve Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Texas. Ahead of the franchise could rev its expansion motor, while, it experienced to create a partnership with the automaker it’s named after.
“Ford executives were being down there and frequented the cafe and they appreciated what they observed,” Shlemon reported. “The founders then gained a cellular phone connect with shortly immediately after from the licensing section.
“They reported, ‘you men are carrying out a little something that you really don’t have the authorization to do. But we like your model, and what you are undertaking, so let’s established up a licensing arrangement with you fellas,’” stated Shlemon.
Right after negotiating, a licensing settlement was arrived at in 2016, permitting the restaurant to use the Ford emblem. Furthermore, the company has entry to historical pics and actual Model Ts.
“It’s an legendary brand that has a good reputation in the market,” Shlemon said. “The business itself is really protecting of the name and its property, irrespective of whether it’s retail or a cafe. As we open up new restaurants, the Ford title has been extremely advantageous. Men and women realize the name.”
All over the very same time, Ford’s Garage entered the globe of franchising.
“The management group we have introduced in to franchise the organization has a good deal of cafe encounter in excess of quite a few decades,” Shlemon said. “So, they’ll have the skills of the company to enable in site assortment, making design, opening and teaching.”
Like the franchise price, the full expenditure for a Ford’s Garage ranges from $1.46 million to $6.35 million. Most areas are 8,900 square ft with about 250 seats.
Like the autos developed by the motor corporation, the burgers at Ford’s Garage have the Ford brand branded on just about every bun. In addition to its emphasis on key burgers, Ford’s Garage also has an emphasis on craft beer, with a wide range from microbreweries.
The newest openings for Ford’s Garage will take place in Might, with restaurants established to start in Cincinnati, Ohio, Palm Beach front, Florida, and Dallas. The restaurant in Dallas will be opened by franchisee Brian Judd.
Judd, who operates out of Cape Coral, Florida, said he intends to open up 6 to seven dining establishments in the Dallas-Fort Truly worth region, and a further 6 in the Houston area.
“It’s a terrific current market and there are a ton of terrific folks in Texas,” Judd claimed. “We also experience there’s nothing at all like this idea in Texas, so we sense it will be very well gained by the buyers.”
Judd stated he was hooked on the thought when he visited the company’s second Florida cafe. In addition to the mechanic-impressed uniforms and memorabilia featured, the vehicle-themed décor also drew Judd to the brand.
“There are so lots of great things to this issue,” Judd explained. “There are old gas pumps, air pumps, and the serviette holder is a hose clamp you’d come across on a car. It’s just a great vibe for a cafe.”
Farther north, there are plans to open a 2nd Ford’s Garage in Michigan. The to start with was built in Dearborn, right on the home of the Ford Motor Organization.
“They assisted in the creating of the restaurant,” stated Shlemon. “It’s carrying out excellent, and we just signed a lease to open up our next cafe up there in the initially quarter of 2023.”
According to Shlemon, the common unit volume of a Ford’s Garage is about $6 million.