Sobelmans’ Franchisee Support Systems and Training Goes Above and Beyond Industry Standards

Dave Sobelman, founder of Sobelmans Pub & Grill, recently celebrated his 50th birthday. Friends, family and loyal customers came from all over to wish him well on this milestone occasion. Instead of a big fancy party or a tropical vacation, well wishers found him doing what he is usually doing on a Friday night--making sure everything was running smoothly at one of the several Sobelmans locations found throughout Wisconsin. On this particular night, he was doing whatever was needed to ensure Sobelmans’ newest franchised location was running at peak performance. This is just one example of many that illustrates the hard work and dedication that franchisees benefit from when they become part of the Sobelmans system.

Most days, you will likely find Dave and Melanie Sobelman behind the bar or bussing tables.

“My wife and I are all in, we do whatever needs to be done. Creating a fun and enjoyable experience for our customers is our top priority,” Sobelman said.  

When one of their newly opened franchise locations received less than stellar reviews during their grand opening, the Sobelmans jumped right in and offered their direct attention and guidance, retraining staff and bringing in their own restaurant’s staff to help get the location up to standard. Weeks later, the location is now receiving the kind of rave reviews the iconic brand has grown accustomed to.

Sobelmans Pub & Grill* has deep roots and a huge fan base with food and Bloody Mary’s that have earned a cult following. But beyond that, they have put together a system that works. With a large percentage of restaurants failing within the first five years, Sobelmans has been open for over sixteen years and is still growing, establishing itself as a Southeastern Wisconsin institution. Successfully infusing a passion for creating an inviting atmosphere with a dedication to providing customers with quality service and the best burgers and Bloody Mary’s around, customers receive an experience that they come back for again and again.

And those customers are begging for more. The Sobelmans realized that they personally could not open too many more locations by themselves, but demand was too high not to respond. This is when they turned to franchising, looking to partner with franchisees that have the same passion and commitment to excellence in food, service and fun as they do.

Franchisees receive the benefit of the Sobelmans’ wealth of knowledge and experience that can only come from years of success in the restaurant industry.

“First starting out, there were lots of obstacles. But every day I learned something new. Through time, we have come up with a casual dining experience that really resonates with our customer base.” Sobelman recalls. This type of first-hand knowledge and hands-on guidance from a founder is unparalleled in the franchising world.

Extensive training takes place at one of the Sobelmans’ proprietary locations. Franchisees are given an up-close look at the day to day operations and the high standards that Sobelmans Pub & Grill patrons have come to expect from the brand. This is then followed by a period of training within the franchisee’s location to ensure that they hit the ground running. And the support doesn’t stop there. Ongoing assistance is available should a need arise after the initial training period.

“We are able to respond to the individual needs of each location in a way that no other franchise out there is able to,” Sobelman added.  

Also available to franchisees are marketing materials and the benefit of the wide spread brand recognition throughout the region. Sobelmans has a large social media presence and has overwhelmingly favorable site reviews. Anyone coming into the brand benefits from this foundation that Sobelmans has already established.

Another important step in the franchise process is site selection.  

“The buildings that we chose are important. We like a space that has a history to incorporate into the location. We have turned down two strip mall locations because they did not bring the character that is an essential part of the Sobelmans experience,” said Sobelman, who knows just what character is needed and has several different locations in mind for further expansion. “We can help a franchisee pick a location that will enhance the Sobelmans experience.”

Sobelmans Pub & Grill is all about making people happy by providing a unique dining experience that is both high quality and fun. With the passion and commitment to each location’s success, the Sobelmans brand offers franchisees a proven system combined with personalized support that is as unique as their Bloody Mary’s.

Click here for more information on owning a Sobelmans Pub & Grill.