Friends-Turned-Franchisees Bria Lattimore and Steve Bales Ink 3-Unit Deal To Bring Cheba Hut to San Antonio

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and two new Cheba Hut franchisees have certainly decided to go big.

Longtime friends and now-business partners Bria Lattimore and Steve Bales recently signed a three-unit deal to bring the marijuana-themed sandwich shop franchise to San Antonio. Their actual locations and opening dates are yet to be determined, but Bales, a seasoned business professional, and Lattimore, a bartender with 15 years of industry experience, are excited to introduce the unique concept to an equally unique market.

Lattimore and Bales, who first met at a bar in 2015 and quickly struck up a friendship, had been interested in opening a business together for a long time but were not quite sure the route they wanted to take.

That said, they knew franchising might be a good option.

“I was interested in opening a franchise because building up a business from scratch would be rough,” Lattimore said. “Steve and I ended up joining a few franchise sites and entrepreneur groups, and Cheba Hut just kept popping up. I was intrigued at the surface level, so I decided to take a look and quickly fell in love with the concept. I was excited by the prospect of serving people in a great bar atmosphere––it fit my background well. Plus, there aren’t too many places here that offer the atmosphere Cheba Hut does where you want to grab a beer and a sub and chill for a while.”

Lattimore wasn’t the only one whose previous experience matched up well with Cheba Hut. Bales is a franchising veteran, having owned and operated a PODS franchise in Omaha, Nebraska since 2005. He received some major Cheba Hut brand validation from his brother-in-law and an old friend, who endorsed the brand’s food and atmosphere.

“I was on board with the brand as a business and I already had two great recommendations without even eating there yet,” Bales said.

With a population of 1.5 million according to 2018 U.S. Census data, San Antonio is poised to be an excellent fit for the Cheba Hut brand. For one, the city is growing at a rapid clip; in a May 2018 report, the U.S. Census Bureau listed San Antonio as the fastest-growing city in the U.S. in the two years previous. Further, an article in San Antonio Magazine earlier this year detailed how the city’s burgeoning technology scene is rivaling that of nearby Austin, Texas. San Antonio is also recognized as a foodie haven. Cheba Hut, with its variety of sandwiches, salads, appetizers, desserts and local beer and spirits offerings, will fit in quite nicely.

There is many a customer base to attract in Alamo City, and this has not gone unnoticed by Lattimore and Bales. The two are targeting downtown San Antonio for their first location, specifically South Town, a youthful and popular downtown area with a more urban vibe that is growing rapidly.

“Say what you want about the cannabis aspect, but Cheba Hut is a great place for a sandwich and a beer,” Lattimore said. “San Antonio is known for its food and Cheba Hut is a laid-back, delicious option that the market really needs—we’re excited to add a top-tier sandwich shop to San Antonio where you’ll want to go eat and hang out for an hour.”

Lattimore and Bales are joining the Cheba Hut brand at a time of rapid growth. Not only is Cheba Hut expanding in its home state of Arizona, but the brand is also breaking into major markets such as Chicago and the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

With a unique franchise concept, a growing market and complementary work experiences, everything is in place for Lattimore and Bales to make Cheba Hut proud in San Antonio.

The startup costs for a Cheba Hut franchise range from $336,000 to $678,000. To learn more about owning a Cheba Hut, visit https://franchise.chebahut.com/.