San Antonio Melting Pot Franchise Celebrates 20 Years of Operations

For Corey Foust, Melting Pot isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a family tradition and a way to bring people together in San Antonio. Twenty years ago, Foust and his parents opened the San Antonio location, combining his background in architecture with their shared love of fondue. While his parents initially led as franchisees, Foust designed the restaurant and managed its day-to-day operations from the very beginning.

A few years ago, Foust fully stepped into the ownership role, taking over franchise operations while continuing to focus on delivering a great experience for the community. Now, as the San Antonio Melting Pot location marks its 20th anniversary, Foust looks back on the foundation his family built, the support of his loyal team and the relationships with customers that have made the restaurant a local favorite. He’s excited to celebrate this milestone and give back to the community that has been part of their journey.

1851 Franchise spoke to Foust about his franchise journey. Here’s what he had to say. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Corey Foust: I was working in architecture before franchising. I worked at an architecture firm in San Antonio, but I grew up in Orlando, where we visited The Melting Pot quite a bit — it was one of our favorite restaurants. My parents had retired and moved to San Antonio, where we discovered there was a franchise opportunity available. We decided to pursue it.

That was 20 years ago when we first signed on. I actually designed the restaurant myself. While my parents were the primary franchisees. I operated the restaurant from the beginning. Since 2019, I’ve taken over full franchise operations while continuing to manage the restaurant day-to-day.

1851: What do you believe has contributed to the success of your location over the past 20 years? 

Foust: Our culture and my management team. I have a long-standing team — my general manager has been with me for 15 years, my assistant manager for over 10 years and my kitchen manager for eight years. Holding onto them has been crucial, and part of that comes down to changing how we hire. Instead of focusing on whether someone has extensive restaurant experience, we started prioritizing how well they fit with our culture. It sounds obvious, but it’s not as easy as it seems. You still need people who can perform the job, but finding individuals who are likable and align with our culture has proven to be more important.

Not having to hire new managers frequently has also been a big factor. These guys are more like partners now. Over the last 10 years, I’ve shifted more into an ownership role, working from home more and not being as involved day-to-day. They’ve taken on a lot of what I used to do and learned the ins and outs of running the business. Teaching them has been key, giving them a better understanding of what we’re working toward and their role in it.

That sense of ownership and buy-in is probably why they’ve stayed so long. They know what it takes and what I do, and they’re fully invested. It’s more than just managing staff or guests — it’s about understanding the bigger picture of what we’re doing day-to-day, month-to-month and year-to-year.

1851: What made your family pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Foust: We were big fans of The Melting Pot growing up — it was one of our favorite places to go. But beyond that, what has really stood out over the years is the structure and support the franchise provides now compared to 20 years ago. Back then, things were different, but the support we receive today from each department — whether it’s marketing, operations or other areas — is fantastic.

We were a test store for about eight years and one of the original corporate test locations. That meant we were often six months ahead of the rest of the country. It gave us the opportunity to work closely with corporate, testing everything from paper quality to food and plateware. Being involved in their development process created a strong connection between us and the corporate team.

What keeps us happy and satisfied as part of this franchise community is the way corporate operates. Their culture aligns well with our principles, and we pass those values on to our staff. It’s a partnership that has made a big difference for us over the years.

1851: Any plans to celebrate the anniversary?

Foust: The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon cutting as part of the celebration, marking it as a 20-year anniversary ribbon cutting. Additionally, we have a VIP night that corporate has helped us promote to influencers and media.

We’re also engaging with our fondue fans by promoting reservations for the event. Starting today, the first 50 reservations will get to attend the VIP night for a fully comped dinner. It’s our way of giving back to our loyal customers.

1851: What else do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Foust: Right now, we’re focused on staying rooted in the community. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Foust: Well, it depends on whether they have prior experience in the restaurant industry. Many franchisees in Melting Pot don’t have much restaurant experience, but regardless, I’d say the most important thing is to build a strong leadership team. Hire people who will run the restaurant the way you would so you’re not tied to being there all the time. That leadership will trickle down to the rest of the staff and create a solid foundation.

As for franchising itself, I think it’s a great option, especially for restaurants. You have the support system of the franchisor, which makes a big difference. They provide guidance, visit regularly and help ensure you’re on the right track. At the same time, they’re there to offer support when needed.

The structure of franchising is another advantage. With a franchise, much of the groundwork — like creating a menu, establishing purchasing agreements and developing a concept — is already done for you. It’s essentially a turnkey operation. While you still have to follow the processes and meet their standards, it’s much easier than starting something from scratch. I’d definitely recommend the franchise route for anyone considering opening a restaurant.

About Melting Pot

Founded in 1975, Melting Pot has offered a unique fondue dining experience for more than 45 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. Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.meltingpot.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Melting Pot, please visit www.meltingpotfranchise.com. 

About Front Burner

Headquartered in Tampa, Front Burner is the restaurant management company for Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., and the new casual whimsical dining concept Melting Pot Social! Melting Pot currently has 92 restaurants in 31 U.S. states and Canada. Melting Pot Social opened its first location in July 2021 in Asheville, NC. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.