Melting Pot

As&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-50th-anniversary-2729106" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Melting Pot</a> celebrates its 50th anniversary, the iconic fondue franchise has much more to commemorate than the milestone itself. While five decades of service is, in itself, a remarkable achievement, the relationships the brand has cultivated over its lifetime are even more meaningful. From franchisees who have dedicated decades to&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a> to new owners who bring fresh perspectives, the brand continues to evolve with a group of passionate restaurant professionals who share the core values that have made Melting Pot a beloved dining destination for generations.<h2>Dedicated Franchisees Find Lifelong Success With the Brand</h2>Some of Melting Pot’s most remarkable success stories come from franchisees who started their journey with the brand in their youth, fell in love with the model and decided to build lifelong careers through it.Robert Frady and Dale Wallace exemplify this legacy. As the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/the-melting-pots-longest-standing-franchisee-duo-receives-service-pot-award-2724177#stories">brand’s longest-standing franchisee duo</a>, the two demonstrate how Melting Pot is about so much more than fondue.“We were working at Melting Pot to pay our bills, but we just kind of fell in love with it," Frady said. "It got into our blood. In our last year of college, the leadership team mentioned that they would be launching franchises, and Dale and I, being young and naive thought, 'That's a great idea!'”With limited experience and a few thousand dollars in their pockets, the pair took a chance and opened their first location in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1987. In 1990, they relocated to Florida and established the Longwood location, which they have now operated for over 30 years.For many Melting Pot franchisees, long-lasting success is driven much in part by the culture cultivated in the restaurants themselves. The guest is the priority, and each team member goes above and beyond to deliver the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.meltingpot.com/perfect-night-out.aspx?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-50th-anniversary-2729106" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Perfect Night Out</a>.<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-neel-95793745/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-50th-anniversary-2729106" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brian Neel</a>, who now owns seven Melting Pot locations, realized this during his time as a college-aged dishwasher. As he climbed the ranks through management, he began to see just how meaningful Melting Pot was, and he started to view it as his pathway to long-term success.“I always had a vision that if I worked hard, treated people fairly and was honest, no matter what I decided to do, I could make it happen,” Neel said. “I always believed in the American Dream, and I feel that each person has their own pathway to achieve it.”<h2>New Perspectives and a Bright Future With Fresh Faces</h2>Combining the valuable contributions of long-time owners with the perspectives of fresher faces in the system has allowed Melting Pot to stay relevant and consistently evolve, never getting stuck in the past.“I think that Melting Pot has worked very diligently over the past decade to position themselves for the future,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-arias-b577a5162/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-50th-anniversary-2729106" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rob Arias</a>, a multi-unit franchisee with restaurants in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. “It’s a technology-driven company, which is unheard of for a legacy brand, and they didn’t just tiptoe into it — they went all the way.”<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/levi-kay-1ab94453/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-50th-anniversary-2729106" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Levi Kay</a>,&nbsp;owner of both the Savannah, Georgia and Pensacola, FL Melting Pot locations and COO with the Cheese Cartel, appreciates the brand’s clear vision and steady growth. “The brand has done really well,” he said. “We can already see, within the company, how rapidly we’re moving forward, and our sales are growing in the right direction, too.”Even first-time franchisees are finding opportunity with the established brand.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-r-hickerson-69880923/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-50th-anniversary-2729106" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chad Hickerson</a>, with his wife Candice Bright and mother-in-law Diana Bonnett, has&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/melting-pot-bentonville-arkansas-franchise-owners-2725835#stories">opened the brand’s first location in Bentonville, Arkansas</a>. As loyal guests of the brand themselves, they were excited about the opportunity to bring Melting Pot to a new community and saw clear potential to establish a strong family business with the backing of the franchisor.“We knew that we wanted our children to grow up understanding what it’s like to build and grow a business, support a family and invest in their community,” Hickerson said. “They’ll work in the restaurant and wash dishes just like I did when I was in high school.”<h2>Looking to the Future</h2>With a rich history and a strong, dedicated team, Melting Pot has a bright future ahead.“My next step in life is to be able to step back even a little more and have even more trust than I already have in my management and my partners,” Neel said. “And to help them fulfill their dreams.” As Melting Pot celebrates its 50th anniversary, franchisees remain optimistic about what’s in store for their own businesses and the larger Melting Pot community.“There are many new units on the forefront for the brand,” Arias said. “I've risked every single thing I've had six times on this brand and it has not let me down.”With a blend of experienced owners and fresh perspectives, Melting Pot continues to evolve while maintaining the core values and exceptional dining experience that have defined it for half a century, and its ability to retain long-term franchisees while attracting new ones speaks to its enduring appeal.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info.">http://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info.</a>&nbsp;

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How Melting Pot’s Franchisees Are Driving Its Next Chapter

1851 Franchise

A brand built on service and connection, Melting Pot thrives with a blend of innovation and clear commitment to the core values that made it what it is today.

This brand page has been paid for by MELTING POT. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

50 Years of Fondue and Family: Melting Pot Celebrates Its Legacy and Looks to the Future

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Melting Pot Evolution Sets the Stage for the Next 50 Years

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Melting Pot Wraps Up 2025 With 4 Restaurants Opened, 3 Additional Franchises Awarded and Continued Expansion Momentum

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TAMPA, Fla.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a>, the iconic 94-unit fondue franchise, closed its 50th year with achievements in both unit-level success and franchise development momentum. In addition to opening four restaurants in New Haven, Connecticut; Syracuse, New York; Rogers, Arkansas; and St. Petersburg, Florida; the team awarded three more development agreements, drove franchisee success with continued&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/evolution-design-2731008">Melting Pot Evolution</a> remodels and supported a growing retail presence with the launch of Melting Pot at Home across over 2,500 grocery locations.“Last year was a milestone year for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a>,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-r-crawford-784a0810/">John “JC” Crawford</a>. “Our 50th anniversary was one to remember. Melting Pot continued to deliver the atmosphere and unique menu that guests know and love, driving our sales performance and maintaining our status as the go-to fondue concept. We saw a surge in franchise development with multiple signings and openings, setting the stage for another great year of growth and partnership with entrepreneurs committed to their communities and delivering the Perfect Night Out.”As the brand celebrated its Golden Anniversary, the team continued to support systemwide remodeling efforts, updating long-standing locations in line with new, modern brand standards. The Melting Pot Evolution remodel, while embracing a new look and feel, has proven to be a strategic driver of business, as well. The new St. Petersburg location, which launched with the new design, reported a per-person check average of over $70, outpacing the national average of $61. The Rogers location, which opened in November, had the third-highest weekly sales of the entire system in the first week of December.In addition to meaningful change throughout the system, Melting Pot drove community change with its ongoing commitment to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stjude.org/">St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital</a>. After raising $1.17 million in 2024, the system raised a record-breaking $1.23 million with its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.meltingpot.com/blog/melting-pot-launches-22nd-annual-st--jude-thanks-and-giving-campaign-benefiting-st--jude-childrens-research-hospital/">2025 Thanks and Giving® campaign</a>. To date, Melting Pot has raised over $18 million for the organization and stands alongside global giants like Target and Microsoft in its level of contribution.Looking forward to a strong 2026, Melting Pot is targeting expansion in Las Vegas; South Florida; San Jose, California; Providence, Rhode Island; Provo, Utah; Greensboro, North Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Houston and The Woodlands, Texas. The brand’s continuing Golden Anniversary Incentive will support franchisees looking to develop in these markets.The first five new-construction franchise agreements signed beginning July 1, 2025, will receive 50% off the initial franchise fee — a savings of $22,500. This special offer is available through March 31, 2026, or until five qualifying agreements are signed, whichever comes first. With two new-construction development agreements already signed, there are just three slots remaining. The incentive applies exclusively to new builds.Melting Pot’s continued success is only bolstered by strides made in the retail space in 2025, with Melting Pot at Home cheese and chocolate fondue now made available in over 2,500 grocers nationwide and cheese fondue available in select Publix locations during the holiday season.“As a legacy brand, Melting Pot is not a concept that needs to open dozens of new restaurants per year to represent success,” Crawford said. “Last year, we focused on intentional growth with high-quality partners, brand growth through Melting Pot Evolution, and increased awareness through our retail channels. These successes, in combination with our four new openings, signal strong momentum and a bright future for Melting Pot in 2026.”About Melting PotFounded in 1975, Melting Pot has offered a unique fondue dining experience for more than 50 years. As the premier fondue restaurant franchise, Melting Pot has 94 restaurants in 32 U.S. states and Canada. Known for offering a variety of fondue cooking styles and unique entrées, Melting Pot’s menu also features cheese fondues, salads, fine wines, spirits and chocolate fondue desserts. Fondue fans can join Melting Pot’s Club Fondue for exclusive promotions, special events and advance holiday reservation privileges. The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. (TMPRI), headquartered in Tampa, Florida, is the franchisor of Melting Pot. For more information, visit www.meltingpot.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Melting Pot, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.meltingpotfranchise.com">www.meltingpotfranchise.com</a>.&nbsp;

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As&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a>, the iconic fondue franchise, celebrates its landmark 50th anniversary, the system is celebrating major progress in its&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/melting-pot-evolution-the-future-of-the-melting-pot-franchise-2728124#stories">Melting Pot Evolution</a> redesign program. The systemwide initiative, which encompasses both new and existing locations, is a push to modernize the design of the brand, streamline operations and revolutionize the guest experience.&nbsp;While all new&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a> locations are built with the Melting Pot Evolution design, existing locations have been remodeled in waves, and this effort is expected to be complete by summer 2026. This evolution is more than aesthetic, though that is a major facet. The new design also represents a strategic pivot designed to broaden Melting Pot’s appeal with increased dining options and flexibility for the evolving consumer, and the results are already validating the strategy.New locations in St. Petersburg, Florida, New Haven, Connecticut, and Rogers, Arkansas, are shattering national averages in select key performance metrics, driven by a design that puts the bar front and center and invites guests to dine on their own terms, and remodeled locations are receiving enthusiastic approval from guests and team members alike as they reopen post-renovation.<h2>Proof in the Numbers</h2>The financial impact of the Melting Pot Evolution design is undeniable. The new St. Petersburg location, which opened in April, reports a per-person average of $70.50, which is significantly higher than the national year-to-date average of $61. Similarly, New Haven, which opened in May, boasts a PPA of $64.18. In the first week of December, Rogers, which opened in November, had the third-highest sales week in the system.A key driver of this growth is the reimagined bar experience.&nbsp;In the past, Melting Pot bars were often tucked away or inactive. The Melting Pot Evolution design places them as focal points, leading to a surge in alcohol sales. St. Pete’s alcohol product mix sits at 23.7% (the highest in the system) while New Haven follows closely at 17.1%. Both are well above the national average of 12.1%, proving that the new design successfully captures the high-margin "happy hour" and casual dining crowd.<h2>A New Era in St. Pete</h2>For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/celinda-norton-347a1bb">Celinda Norton</a>, general manager of the St. Pete location, the new design represents a necessary leap forward. Having operated nine Melting Pot locations over her career, she views the move to the vibrant Central Avenue district as a game-changer."We are at the beginning of the next 50 years," Norton said. "Fifty years ago, people wanted to dine for the whole evening. Now, we still have those guests, but we also have generations with busy lives who want to come, eat, have fun and leave."In addition to the bar being more of a focal point in St. Pete than it was in previous locations, a unique garage-style door that opens to the street further integrates the bar and overall restaurant with the bustling city.”<img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1765976491_image.png">"A Melting Pot bar is not the type of place where you’d go for happy hour if it were buried in the back," Norton said. "Here, the bar is front and center, and it’s a huge draw. We have guests who come for a reservation and ask to sit at the bar instead, and we have guests who visit just for a drink and quick chocolate fondue at the bar."<h2>Balancing Tradition and Modernity in New Haven</h2>In New Haven, franchisees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-reeve-5a62271">Jonathan</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dainasenatore">Daina Reeve</a>, long-time guests who decided to open a Melting Pot after they learned their favorite local unit would be closing, noted that the new look initially shocked some loyalists, but even the most traditional guests have come to love the Melting Pot Evolution look."We underestimated how many people missed Melting Pot," Daina said. "People walk in, and there is an immediate reaction. The modern feel shocks them at first because they are used to the traditional, dark, secluded booths. But after experiencing it, they see it as an evolution. They see Melting Pot making changes to stay with the times."The Reeves emphasized that, while the design is open and airy with quartz finishes and modern lighting, the soul of the brand remains."We shouldn’t lose sight of what makes Melting Pot what it is," Jonathan said. "For example, Lovers' Lane is still there. It’s the only place where you can have an intimate dinner for two and feel secluded. It’s nice to mix the old with the new."While the new design does “mix the old with the new,” Daina pointed out that the modern aesthetic has been carefully curated and still aligns with the warm, welcoming atmosphere guests expect from Melting Pot. The spaces don’t feel “cold” like some modern designs can."I personally think that the new design has amazing textures," she said. "For such a modern space, it feels like you're kind of in your living room. We have a fireplace, candle walls and really well-done focal points that make the restaurant super special."<h2>Building From the Ground Up in Arkansas</h2>For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-r-hickerson-69880923/">Chad Hickerson</a> and Candice Bright, the owners of the newly opened Rogers, Arkansas, location, the Melting Pot Evolution design offered a clean slate. Unlike retrofits, their location was built from the ground up with the new aesthetic in mind."It’s just really a clean restaurant," Candice said. “The focal features, like the bar and the ADA seating, are really beautiful. I’m really proud of the design.”<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.instagram.com/themeltingpotnwa/reel/DQ9WkPIEVyk/"><div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><iframe src="//cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?app=1&amp;api_key=fd3b6b3731f34f55ba1fe3&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fthemeltingpotnwa%2Freel%2FDQ9WkPIEVyk%2F" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div></figure>"I had struggled with feeling like I was walking into a 1970s home in the old designs," Chad said. "The modernization fits a whole lot better. It’s much more open.”The Rogers location features distinct design elements like an aquifer water-vapor fireplace and sunk-in booths. And, thanks to the diversity in design, with anything from booths to high-top tables and bar seating, the restaurant has the perfect seating option for any occasion. Chad describes the different areas like different “neighborhoods” within the space.“You can come six times, sit in six different places and feel like you’ve gone to six different restaurants," he said.<h2>What Melting Pot Evolution Means for the Future of the Brand</h2>With the Melting Pot Evolution project close to wrapping up, the brand is set up well for what comes next. Early results from St. Pete and New Haven show that the move to a more open, bar-forward design is not only bringing in new guests but also giving longtime regulars a fresh reason to come back.As the franchise moves past its 50th year, the modern design serves as a physical signal that Melting Pot is evolving alongside its guests and franchise owners, all to the benefit of the brand and guest experience."We have seen the reaction of those who haven't been to a newly remodeled Melting Pot before or in some time," said Franchise Growth Strategist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-benyo-1bb36a248">Collin Benyo</a>. “From prospects to vendors to previous guests, the reaction is overwhelmingly positive.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info.</a>&nbsp;

50 Years of Fondue and Family: Melting Pot Celebrates Its Legacy and Looks to the Future

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