7 Franchise Brands That Developed in the Windy City

When you think of Chicago, do you think of franchising? Well, you should.

As more than 60,000 prepare to descend upon Chicago over the next few days for the National Restaurant Association Show, which is the largest gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals, the staff at 1851 Franchise thought it was time for a history lesson.

As it turns out, Chicago is the perfect home for this four-day whirlwind of Michelin-starred chef demonstrations, foodie tech startups, informative panel discussions and hundreds of tasty vendors. That’s because the Windy City has played home to a number of important franchise brands that have developed on the very streets that these industry experts and foodies will soon take over from May 21 to 24.

Here are seven brands that started in Chicago—give them a try while you’re in their beloved hometown.

Brown’s Chicken

Since Brown’s Chicken first opened up shop in a trailer on the corner of 80^th and Harlem in the Bridgeview neighborhood of Chicago in 1949, the brand has been focused on serving great chicken. Now, with over 30 company- and franchise-owned locations in the Chicagoland market, they are continuing to share their time-honored recipes. Using buttermilk and cottonseed oil, the company proudly promoted their crisp chicken through the “It Tastes Better” slogan. In addition to their namesake, Brown’s also offers a variety of Chicago-style sandwiches and catering options.

Giordano’s

Pick up the fork and knife and enjoy a slice of this Chicago-based franchise. Giordano’s has been evolving their now-famous stuffed pizza for over 200 years, and customers and franchisees both agree that it’s the real deal. Since opening up on Chicago’s Southside in 1974, the pizza brand is continuing to grow in the Second City as well as nationally. With an engaged customer base and a reputation for having a great pizza, it’s prime time for future franchisees to join the brand.

Forever Yogurt

You can thank Forever Yogurt for bringing the self-serve fro-yo craze to the Midwest. After it’s founding in 2010 in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, the brand has been spreading smiles and swirls with over 85 rotating premium frozen yogurt flavors and 50 fun toppings to choose from. The brand has expanded from the west side of the Windy City and is now looking to expand their self-serve, fast service and happy customers model across the U.S. and internationally.

Al’s #1 Italian Beef

Who would have known that a sandwich created out of necessity during the Great Depression has turned into an iconic Chicago staple? Al’s #1 Italian Beef has been crafting the classic Italian beef sandwich for Chicago natives since Al Ferrari and his sister and brother-in-law Frances and Chris Pacelli, Sr., developed the recipe in 1938 and opened their doors on West Taylor Street in Chicago. In 1999, Dave Howey of Chicago Franchise Systems Inc. took the recipe from Chicago’s “Little Italy” to franchising. Now the brand is spreading Italian Beef all across the country from Las Vegas to Dallas and beyond.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

Before serving toasted sandwiches, hand-dipped shakes and homemade desserts, Potbelly Sandwich Shop was a local antique shop that was on the verge of something amazing. After offering lunches to customers at the original store on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, the sandwich shop took off and offered fans a way to enjoy a meal, and live music in a neighborhood setting. Now the brand has expanded past the original antique shop and is currently spreading across the U.S. Single- and multi-unit franchise options are available for those who want to become a “Potbelly Person.”

Corner Bakery Café

What started on a street corner of Chicago in 1991 has grown into a national chain with 194 locations. Back in the early 1990s, Corner Bakery started with freshly baked bread, great coffee and espresso. As the brand evolved, it now features soups, sandwiches, salads and more. With a new café opening approximately every two weeks, Corner Bakery offers potential franchisees a neighborhood experience and high café sales volumes among the fast-casual segment.