For long-time franchisee Ian Ruppel and his on-site partner, Linda Kinne, the reopening of the Destiny Mall Melting Pot location represents a chance to reinvigorate a community staple while serving as a catalyst for good in the Syracuse community.

After an eight-year absence, the brand is on track to open a new, remodeled location later this year or early 2026. While the comeback will bring Melting Pot’s beloved cheese and chocolate fondue back to the area, the growth is about more than just the food. For Ruppel and Kinne, the revival is an opportunity to reinvigorate the space, challenge dated perceptions of the mall environment and make a real local impact, one pot of fondue at a time.

Ruppel and Kinne took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Ian Ruppel: My journey with Melting Pot began in April 2006 as a server, and it was the first job that genuinely challenged me and offered clear opportunities for growth. I quickly progressed through management roles, became a general manager, then became an on-site partner. Currently, I’m involved with four Melting Pot locations and consult on two more.

Melting Pot “scratches a lot of my itches” when it comes to providing hospitality-focused service. That’s been incredibly rewarding.

Linda Kinne: I previously left a job of 12 years, and I told my husband, “Absolutely no malls and no restaurants.” Then I ended up running a TGI Fridays at Destiny Mall for five years. I was the longest-standing general manager. Then I transitioned to the PF Chang’s right next door, and I was the operating partner there for the last two years.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Kinne: I’ve worked in the restaurant industry for over a decade. One day, I was working at my previous restaurant, and I saw lights on in another unit. I was nosy, so I walked over and introduced myself to Collin Benyo. We had a 10-minute conversation about how the mall wanted to reopen that Melting Pot location and the team was looking for a franchisee.

I said, “Oh, I don’t have the knowledge or money to do that,” and I walked away. As the day went on, I went back over and spoke with Collin again. He asked if I’d be open to at least sitting down and discussing it, and I thought, “I’m not getting any younger. It’s not going to hurt, and this could be the next step in my service industry career.” Next thing I knew, I was on the phone with Ian, having conversations. I told him no for almost six months, then in February, he called me again, asking if I was still a “no.” I said, “I don’t think I am!” 

1851: Why are you excited about bringing back the Syracuse Melting Pot location? What do you love most about Melting Pot?

Ruppel: The location was shut down about eight years ago, and the mall never filled that space. We are now remodeling it and reopening it as a Melting Pot, but with new owners and a new look.

There’s a reputation that the Destiny Mall is unsavory. Every time we go in public, people talk about how we need to protect ourselves there, but the mall has done a great job of increasing security and creating an environment that is actually safe.

It feels good to be able to go into a place like that where we’ve gotten a great deal on the space but can also reinvigorate the space and the market. The mall is such a big part of Syracuse; if we can even be a drop in the bucket to make it better, then we feel good about that.

Kinne: I’m most excited to have it back. Syracuse.com posted a few months ago that Melting Pot was coming back, and I went through all of the comments. People were so excited to have it back, saying things like, “I had my first date there” and “I can’t wait to go back there.” 

When I previously visited Melting Pot as a guest, I wasn’t pushed out of the door. I ate until I felt like I would bust. It’s a great experience that I’m excited to bring back to our mall.

Ruppel: At the end of the day, we’re creating moments. A story I tell all the time is when I took care of this table. At the end of the meal, the daughter of the birthday girl said, “Thank you for making what could be my mom’s last birthday amazing.” Whether they remember Melting Pot or not, they have the memory of having a great time for this woman’s last birthday. We get to create those moments every night. What other restaurant can be a part of someone’s life like that?

1851: What is your goal for the new Syracuse location?

Ruppel: Our real goal is to be the best version of ourselves so that we can make the area better. If our employees make a lot of money and do a good job, they become better. We will eventually make the market and the people and places around us better, too. Even our worst employees will be better than another brand’s best employee, so even if they don’t end up working out in our restaurant, they’ll be better for someone else.

I think about this story: There’s a kid on the beach. A huge storm happened and washed up a bunch of sand dollars. He picks up a sand dollar and throws it back into the ocean, and his dad asks, “What are you doing?” The kid says he’s saving the sand dollar, and the dad says, “Yeah, but look how many sand dollars there are. You can’t save them all.” And the kid picks up another one, tosses it into the water and says, “But I can save that one.” That’s our goal. Our goal is to pick up a sand dollar and save what we can. Our goal is to be the best business we’re able to be, and eventually, we can be a catalyst for good in the area.

Kinne: Melting Pot is a different experience, and it’s a great one. A lot of restaurants want you in and out. We want our guests to feel secure. I want them to know they’re welcome to come in, relax, and sit and have a romantic date for two hours. We’ll take care of every last thing they need.

About Melting Pot

Founded 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 92 restaurants in 31 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 www.meltingpotfranchise.com.