Steve Shlemon, the president of Ford’s Garage, a 1920s garage-themed burger and craft beer restaurant franchise with locations across the U.S., has shared his insights on growing a restaurant brand from a single location to a nationally recognized franchise with over 1,000 locations. Shlemon emphasizes the importance of taking a thoughtful and methodical approach to achieve success and avoid common pitfalls that come with rapid expansion.
He advises restaurateurs to go slow to go fast, emphasizing the need for careful and deliberate growth to prevent burnout and ensure sustained success. By focusing on enhancing successful establishments and allocating resources strategically, brands can drive better overall outcomes. Training and developing a strong pipeline of talent should be a top priority to maintain consistency and quality across locations.
Putting the right people in place is crucial for the success of a restaurant brand, especially when scaling up. Shlemon highlights the importance of having great people to run the brand and fostering a positive culture to attract and retain customers. As talent is spread across different locations, maintaining a strong people pipeline is essential to prevent the overreliance on a single location that could jeopardize overall success.
Having a disciplined approach to real estate selection is crucial to avoid costly mistakes and ensure a desired return on investment. Shlemon advises spending time with franchisees to plan the best sites for new locations and avoiding shortcuts that could compromise the brand’s reputation. Maintaining quality while scaling up is paramount, as customers should experience the same level of excellence regardless of location.
Continual improvement is key to success as a brand expands, with a focus on elevating all aspects of the business to meet customer expectations and deliver a strong return on investment. Maintaining a consistent brand experience and upholding quality standards across locations is essential to ensure long-term success. Shlemon’s insights provide valuable guidance for aspiring restaurateurs looking to grow their brands from a single location to a successful franchise.
