- Overview
Bar Louie presents a collection of 109 local social, casual gathering spots – neighborhood bars and eateries that feature hand-crafted cocktails, spirits and delectable food in an inviting, urban atmosphere. Each Bar Louie has a modern, relaxed vibe that expresses the brand’s identity, but no two locations are alike. Some are a cozy 4,000 square feet, while another boasts a roomy 11,000 square feet, with many other locations somewhere between. Layouts vary, as do local food and drink specials.
“Each individual Bar Louie contains its own set of diverse characteristics, yet we offer operational systems and a roadmap to set up franchisees for success,” said Bar Louie CEO John Neitzel. “Our franchisees experience the best of both worlds – they benefit from proven operating systems and home office support, but also have the flexibility to cater to the local neighborhood flavor.”
While the “unfranchise” gains momentum with multi-unit operators seeking to expand their traditional restaurant portfolios with something different, Bar Louie continues to grow at a pace of about 20 corporate-owned locations per year and a goal of 30 new franchises. Each Bar Louie creates, on average, 75-100 jobs. Last year’s system wide sales were at $237 million.
Founded in Chicago’s River North neighborhood in 1991, Bar Louie emerged from local restaurants and sandwich shops opened by its founders, Ted Kasmir and Roger Greenfield. When Bar Louie was first established, its two founders set out with a goal to continue the tradition of these shops while also giving local residents dining and beverage options for each part of the day. The “Louie” sandwich was a staple of the early restaurants and is still served at Bar Louie establishments across the country. In 2010 Bar Louie was purchased by Sun Capital, helping the brand to build infrastructure to grow in new neighborhoods.
REASONS TO INVEST
Bar Louie has revitalized its franchise program and is in the midst of an aggressive U.S. expansion. Our focus on cocktails and beer drives a high beverage mix, which sets Bar Louie apart from the traditional casual dining restaurant.
- Industry high average gross profit margin
- $2.5 million average unit volume
- Flexible location and design options
- Wide, affluent demographic appeal
EXPEDITING YOUR SUCCESS
The Bar Louie executive management team has over 100 years of combined experience with several well-known, successful restaurant brands. Guided by an industry-leading operations team, franchisees benefit from an extensive training program crafted from the brand’s success with its more than 85 corporate locations across the country.
• “Six Steps to Service” training – comprehensive program for restaurant teams
• MALT (Music, Atmosphere, Lighting, Temperature) - the secret to creating the Bar Louie experience
• Access to leading software and restaurant management tools
• Compelling advertising and local store marketing materials
• Extensive PR and social media programming
Qualifications
Bar Louie is seeking like-minded, experienced multi-unit food service and retail operators to join our growing team of franchisees. With an infrastructure dedicated to the development of the brand, a Bar Louie franchisee has access to capital to continue to develop their markets with additional restaurants. Franchisees should have: Minimum liquidity of $500K and minimum net worth of $1.5 million per location.
This material does not constitute an offer of a Bar Louie Restaurant franchise. An offer can only be made by us after receipt of the Franchise Disclosure Document.
