With 94 open restaurants and an explosion in interest from both guests and prospective franchisees, The Melting Pot, the iconic fondue franchise, is now seeking to reestablish its presence in Nebraska. With capacity for two restaurants in the state, it is eyeing the Omaha area for its first development.

“The economic levels we’ve estimated for the Omaha market make it a prime location for a successful new location,” said Collin Benyo, franchise growth strategist. “With limited competition in the area and an opportunity to bring our brand back to a community that is already familiar with us, we have a fantastic recipe for success.”

Omaha’s Business-Friendly Economy

The Melting Pot team has analyzed the economics, demographics and other buying trends of Omaha to determine its suitability for the concept. 

The area is steadily growing in population, another mark of confidence for prospective franchisees looking to open a Melting Pot in the area. Because the fondue franchise is seen as the go-to place for connection and celebration — in addition to the food itself, a growing population presents a great opportunity for franchise owners to capture huge segments of the market. Whether it’s young families dining out for the holidays, couples on a date night, friends gathering to reconnect or coworkers gathering to celebrate business successes, there is something for everyone at The Melting Pot.

Omaha has also proven its strength as a business hub. According to the Greater Omaha Chamber, “We’re home to more than 45,000 businesses, including the headquarters of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies. Organizations thrive in our pro-business climate thanks to moderate taxes, low cost of living and high quality of life.”

Real Estate Strategy in Omaha

In Omaha, the team has already identified the Regency Shopping Center, Village Pointe and Morton Meadows area as prime options for the new Melting Pot. 

Because the franchise concept has a streamlined kitchen model that focuses most heavily on cold preparation before delivering fondue spreads to a table for guests to cook themselves, there is far less space required to house commercial cooking equipment. Similarly, a flexible front-of-house design means that franchisees have more freedom in selecting real estate that will work for them and their specific market — all with the help of a dedicated real estate team from Melting Pot corporate.

Are You a Great Fit for The Melting Pot?

Melting Pot is as much about people as it is about fondue. As it expands, the franchisor is looking for local owners who are truly passionate about the business and will look forward to being a community hero, bringing a sought-after brand to the community. 

Because the model includes robust up-front education and training as well as ongoing support, franchisees from a range of backgrounds have been successful with the business, and the outstanding common denominator is a love for the brand and the people within it.

As The Melting Pot works to grow in the Omaha area, Benyo plans to evaluate prospective owners and will visit the market to meet with qualified candidates in their own home towns. This allows him to have an even better understanding of the owners, the specific area and how a Melting Pot restaurant may fit into the area. The Melting Pot is also targeting Memphis, Houston, Birmingham, Charleston, Fort Worth, Greensboro, Chattanooga, Huntsville and Montgomery as it looks to expand in additional markets.

Total investments range from $1.3 million–$2 million. For more information, visit https://www.meltingpotfranchise.com/.