Why Two Entrepreneurs Decided to Become Sobelmans Pub & Grill’s First Franchisees

Jimmy and Alison Dakolias have long been familiar with the restaurant industry. But it wasn’t until Sobelmans Pub & Grill—a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based brand known for its burgers and Bloody Marys—decided to expand that they ever considered franchising.

The husband and wife duo signed on to be the brand’s first franchisees with a new location in Waukesha. They previously owned two successful bars in the area—Boscos and Spurs. But when they started thinking about adding food to one of their menus, they weren’t sure where to start. That’s when they learned that Sobelmans’ owners, Dave and Melanie Sobelman, were looking to franchise, and a lightbulb went off.

“The timing and opportunity couldn’t have been better. We knew that we wanted to grow one of our bars—Spurs—into a full-service restaurant. But we weren’t exactly sure how to take the next step. As soon as we heard Dave wanted to grow Sobelmans, we reached out,” said Jimmy. “Owning a Sobelmans gives us an incredible opportunity as business owners. The brand has a huge following, not just in Wisconsin, but around the country. Being able to tap into that brand recognition is invaluable.”

Beyond the brand’s strong reputation, the Dakolias’ knew that Sobelmans was the right business ownership opportunity for them after learning that they would be supported throughout the entire grand opening process. Sobelman showed them the ins and outs of their daily responsibilities, including interacting with customers, overseeing the kitchen and ensuring that the business was on the right track both financially and culturally. The Dakolias’ also decided to franchise with Sobelmans in order to tap into growing demand in the burger industry, especially in their local community.

“The Waukesha community has been wanting to see Sobelmans open up here for a while. And given the fact that business has been moving ever since we opened our doors for business, we know we made the right decision to become the brand’s first franchisee ,” said Alison. “The fact that Sobelmans is a family-owned brand also resonates with our consumers. It’s even one of the reasons Jimmy and I knew we could break into franchising—Dave and Melanie have created a system that’s proven to work.”

Now that the Dakolias’ Sobelmans location is up and running, they’re still relying on the brand’s corporate team for support. But with more and more consumers coming through their doors every day, they’re anticipating growth going forward.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into making a franchise successful on a day-to-day basis. But working with local owners like Jimmy and Alison make it simple. When you team up with people who share your passion, you’re going to be successful,” said Sobelman. “Being able to grow at a rapid pace all comes down to staying true to your system. Jimmy and Alison are following our business model and making the Sobelmans culture their own, and we’re excited to see what lies ahead for them in the future.”