The appetite among entrepreneurs in the Indianapolis area looking to invest in Mr. Dan’s Hamburgers is growing ever stronger, as evidenced by the addition of three new franchisees, whose commitment is to build as many as five locations throughout the city within the next few months.
According to Bill Church, president of Mr. Dan’s Franchising LLC, the agreements were signed within the past month, following a flurry of activity that included a series of roundtable discussions, negotiations and site visits.
The well-known restaurant chain that specializes in The Big Dan, a made-to-order burger, and Nathan’s brand of hot dogs, as well as other food items, is being franchised nationally through Mr. Dan’s Franchising LLC.
“Mr. Dan’s is proving to be a popular business model for investors, who’ve discovered there is a great deal of interest in a menu that features great tasting hamburgers, hot dogs and breakfast…that are affordable and available right in their neighborhood,” said Church.
One of the franchise partnerships, Helms and Hansborugh LLC, just signed a lease for a building on the northwest corner of 25th and Keystone Avenue and they are looking at a second restaurant downtown while two other groups have signed agreements and are looking at prospective sites.
“Part of the appeal that these entrepreneurs have recognized is that they can go into former restaurant buildings that have lower costs because many of them already have the necessary plumbing and electrical. It’s making for an attractive opportunity,” he added.
Church noted the franchises are open 24 hours a day, six days a week, and closed on Sundays, which is typical for Mr. Dan’s.
The most recently-opened Mr. Dan’s location can be found at 1526 W. Washington, Indianapolis. Church anticipates three more locations opening within the next five months.
Church noted there are two existing locations at 4390 N. Keystone Avenue, just north of Fall Creek Parkway, and another at 34th and Massachusetts.
He continued, “We are planning to open additional restaurants in the Midwest, first in Indianapolis, and from there Detroit, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Dayton. And then we would hopefully go national.”