Francesca’s Restaurants made a big bet last year to grow beyond its Chicago-area roots coming right out of the Great Recession. Now, it’s upped the ante, hoping consumers’ confidence will improve more quickly and that they’ll head back out for dinner sooner.
The Chicago-based chain of 20 restaurants looks to go beyond its plans announced last year to open 50 national locations: Founder Scott Harris wants 60.
“I’m not getting any younger,” Harris said in an interview from Maui, Hawaii, where he was vacationing. “I want to work really hard for the next 10 years and maybe call it a day, do it more for the fun.”