Melting Pot

For long-time franchisee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-ruppel-89712463?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-returns-syracuse-destiny-mall-2730540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ian Ruppel</a> and his on-site partner,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-kinne-cole-641273114?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-returns-syracuse-destiny-mall-2730540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Linda Kinne</a>, the reopening of the Destiny Mall&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-returns-syracuse-destiny-mall-2730540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Melting Pot</a> 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&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot’s</a> 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:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-benyo-1bb36a248?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-returns-syracuse-destiny-mall-2730540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Collin Benyo</a>. 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!”&nbsp;1851: Why are you excited about bringing back the Syracuse Melting Pot location? What do you love most about Melting Pot?Ruppel:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;I’m most excited to have it back.&nbsp;<a href="http://syracuse.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-returns-syracuse-destiny-mall-2730540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Syracuse.com</a> 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.”&nbsp;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:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;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 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 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&nbsp;<a href="http://www.meltingpot.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-returns-syracuse-destiny-mall-2730540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.meltingpot.com</a>. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Melting Pot, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.meltingpotfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-returns-syracuse-destiny-mall-2730540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.meltingpotfranchise.com</a>.&nbsp;

image of ian ruppel and linda kinne franchisee owners from melting pot in syracuse New York

Melting Pot Returns to Syracuse, NY's Destiny USA Mall

1851 Franchise

As he approaches 20 years with the brand, franchisee Ian Ruppel is preparing to reopen a beloved location, driven by the opportunity to benefit the community and serve as a catalyst for good.

Long-Time Melting Pot Franchisee To Revive Syracuse, New York, Location in Destiny Mall

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

Melting Pot to Return to Memphis, Plans to Open in 2027

Women in Business: Mother-Daughter Duo Leads Melting Pot Success in Arkansas

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Love Stories and Family Traditions: How the Reeves Brought Melting Pot Back to Their Community

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San Antonio Melting Pot Franchise Celebrates 20 Years of Operations

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<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a>, the 93-unit fondue franchise, is returning to the Memphis market, the&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/59600/memphis-playa-bowls-the-melting-pot-edge-district-orleans-station">Daily Memphian recently reported</a>. While franchisees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-williams-83bba2396">Mike</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-williams-b942874/">Nancy Williams</a> originally wanted to open a restaurant in Nashville, which is closer to their home, they chose Memphis because it was a top target market for the development team and because they had connections in the area.The Williamses are currently in the real estate selection process, considering spaces in Midtown and suburban areas.&nbsp;Because&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a> doesn’t require as much kitchen equipment as other restaurants, the pair can evaluate existing spaces to find the ideal location rather than building from scratch.“Melting Pot is a little different as a restaurant because the guests cook most of the food themselves at their table,” Nancy told the Daily Memphian.The Williamses plan to open their Melting Pot restaurant in 2027.Read the full article&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/59600/memphis-playa-bowls-the-melting-pot-edge-district-orleans-station">here</a>.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot">https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot</a>.

Mike and Nancy Williams, the franchisees behind the growth, are currently working to secure real estate, evaluating sites in Midtown Memphis and beyond.

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TAMPA, Fla.&nbsp;— After marking its 50th anniversary last year,&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a> entered 2026 with strong momentum. In the first quarter, the 93-unit fondue franchise saw a major lift around Valentine’s Day and recorded its highest-ever donation following its 22nd year participating in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stjude.org/">St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s</a> annual&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/">Thanks and Giving® campaign</a>.While Valentine’s Day is a natural focus for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a>, this year’s results were even more impressive. The brand reported a 19% increase in net sales and a 20% increase in guest count year-over-year. A review of Valentine’s Day performance over the past decade highlights that 75 restaurants recorded their highest single-day sales, eight restaurants recorded their highest weekly sales, and two restaurants recorded their highest monthly sales around the February holiday.“The energy felt throughout the entire system this Valentine’s Day was remarkable, and it speaks to our staying power as a brand. Melting Pot continues to be the destination of choice for celebrating life’s special moments,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-r-crawford-784a0810/">John “JC” Crawford</a>. “Seeing dozens of restaurants shattering records is a major win for our franchisees and their teams.”The brand’s financial success was matched by a similar rise in guest satisfaction. Melting Pot’s Net Promoter Score improved by over 10% year-over-year to reach 65, a benchmark that puts the brand among the top-performing concepts in the hospitality space. Leaders throughout the system have placed an ongoing emphasis on the guest journey and operational strategy, and it’s clear it’s paying off in guests’ perceptions of food quality, staff friendliness, pacing and overall value.“NPS is one of the most important indicators of guest loyalty, and we’ve made it a core focus across the brand,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-zurcher-73067917">Matthew Zurcher</a>, vice president of franchise and restaurant operations. “Since beginning to track in 2022, we’ve improved from the low 50s to a 65 over the past year. We’ve achieved this by partnering closely with our franchisees — celebrating wins, identifying opportunities and providing the tools, training and data needed to continuously elevate the guest experience.”As Melting Pot has focused on its impact on guests, it has not lost sight of efforts beyond the four walls. Last year was the 22nd year the brand participated in St. Jude’s Thanks and Giving Campaign, and thanks to the generosity and passion of local operators, team members and guests, Melting Pot donated a record-breaking $1,278,308 to the hospital. Earlier this year, the teams who made it possible celebrated on the annual St. Jude Winners’ Trip to Memphis.“As is always the case, it is a highlight of the year for my wife and me to host our most committed team members at St. Jude Children’s Hospital,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-johnston-4b6b0a4a">Bob Johnston</a>, chairman of the board. “This gives us a chance to thank our team members and allows them to see firsthand the work that they and our customers are supporting. We are grateful to have a community of franchisees that generously supports our fundraising efforts. They make it easy for the guest to be generous through our voucher program, creating a cycle of generosity that pays dividends for the brand in terms of employee engagement and culture building.”This commitment to a culture of service and performance is a powerful springboard for Melting Pot’s next phase of expansion. As the brand continues building momentum, it is targeting strategic expansion in Des Moines, Iowa; Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, Tennessee; Boston, Massachusetts and Fort Wayne, Indiana.“Our Q1 performance is the result of a brand that continues to push forward,” Crawford said. “Whether it’s unit-level performance or systemwide philanthropic impact, Melting Pot is stronger than ever, and we’re incredibly optimistic as we step into our next 50 years of operations.”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 93 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&nbsp;Pot, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.meltingpotfranchise.com">www.meltingpotfranchise.com</a>.

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The iconic fondue franchise’s historic start to the year is marked by significant gains in guest satisfaction scores and continued systemwide growth following its Golden Anniversary.


Melting Pot Breaks Records in Q1, Including Unprecedented Valentine’s Day Sales and Highest-Ever St. Jude Thanks and Giving® Donation

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Over its 50-plus-year history,&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a>, the 93-unit fondue franchise, has built its reputation around service and experiential dining, encouraging its guests to focus on an engaging experience and welcoming atmosphere with the ones they love. As it has grown,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a> has also been a part of a rapidly evolving restaurant landscape, and the brand has navigated new technologies and guest behaviors to embrace new tools and maintain local success without straying too far from its core identity. Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-barnett-1a948a9/">Randy Barnett</a>, chief technology officer, is navigating today’s changing technology landscape in a way that embraces what will work while staying level-headed and always putting the guest and franchisee experience first.“Our responsibility is to implement systems, support those systems, then future-proof the business,” he said. “In a nutshell, that’s what we do from a technology perspective. But we don’t just chase trends. It’s about protecting the guest experience and strengthening the franchise model. We have a pretty simple goal: to make it easy for the guests to connect with our brand and easy for operators to deliver on that exceptional experience every day.”<h2>Focusing on Data First Creates a Strong Foundation</h2>New restaurant technology trends and resources are consistently evolving, but Barnett doesn’t embrace them across the Melting Pot system “just because.” Without a foundation, additional technology doesn’t bring value; it creates confusion.&nbsp;So, Barnett has focused intently on building a “reliable data environment” with standardized reporting structures and modernized systems. With this as a baseline, he’s able to more strategically implement new tools and ensure they’re actually helping Melting Pot operators and their guests rather than further complicating processes for no real benefit.The increasing relevance of artificial intelligence has been a prime example of why this strategy is so important.“AI is putting its footprint everywhere,” Barnett said. “For us, before we could start taking advantage of AI, or any modern technology, for that matter, we started building foundations. That meant cleaning up data, creating standardized reporting, modernizing our systems… just making sure that we could really trust what we were seeing. Once you have the clean data and strong infrastructure,&nbsp;then you can start scaling technology in a way that’s meaningful and consistent.”<h2>Practical AI Applications With a Hospitality-First Philosophy</h2>With the proper foundation in place, Melting Pot has been able to embrace new tools and technologies as they have become available to reduce friction and increase the overall quality of experience for the guest.&nbsp;This has come in many forms. Melting Pot has adopted AI tools to support stronger hyper-localized communication and better guest engagement, create a better ticketing system and reduce response time for franchisees reaching out to the Restaurant Support Center, and bolster in-restaurant guest interactions and streamline labor and prep forecasting and requirements. The brand is also working on a new allergen and nutritional intelligence tool to help guests make more informed dining decisions while maintaining compliance for franchisees.Even with all of these tools and processes on board, Melting Pot is still a hospitality-first brand, and Barnett keeps that in mind as he evaluates and rolls out new technology initiatives.“We always lead with the fact that the best restaurant technology is invisible to your guest,” he said. “If we’re doing it right, the guest just feels like the experience is smoother. It’s more personal and more consistent. The most important thing is that we don’t lose what makes the brand special. Melting Pot is about celebration, connection and experience, and technology shouldn’t get in the way of that. It should just make it easier for our teams to deliver that.”<h2>The Future of Melting Pot, Driven by a Broader Perspective</h2>In addition to his tenure with Melting Pot and deep commitment to the hospitality aspect of the brand, Barnett brings additional perspectives from his role on external advisory boards. Through these connections, Barnett stays at the forefront of the industry and is able to both keep an eye out for new tools that will be useful for Melting Pot and hear different perspectives that allow him to differentiate between the next big thing and industry “noise.”“Being a part of some external advisory boards, particularly of AI companies, helps me stay close to where the innovation is going,” he said. “It gives me some early visibility into what’s real and what’s hype and what’s actually practical for operators. The value is the perspective that helps me make better decisions as a brand leader and helps me ensure we’re not caught reacting late to something that’s already reshaping the industry.”With this in mind, Barnett watches what’s coming in the industry while remaining extremely disciplined about what will truly drive the future of Melting Pot that guests and operators are looking for. As the brand looks toward its next decades of operations, it will continue to merge technical precision and the warmth of celebration and togetherness in a way that makes sense for everyone impacted by the experience.“Everything we implement is designed to create leverage for franchisees,” Barnett said. “Restaurants are high-pressure environments, and operators don’t just need more dashboards. They need more clarity and impact. Our technologies help them simplify decisions by allowing them to see what matters most — what guests are saying, what’s working in marketing and where opportunities are being missed. I believe that the future belongs to brands that can deliver the hospitality experience with the precision of a modern platform, and that’s really what we’re focused on doing.” To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot">https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot</a>.&nbsp;

image of Randy Barnett Chief Technology Officer at the melting pot

Chief Technology Officer Randy Barnett leverages his decades of experience to lead a fondue franchise system that embraces innovation without losing sight of what makes it special.

Long-Time Melting Pot Franchisee To Revive Syracuse, New York, Location in Destiny Mall

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