When he joined the brand in 2011 as a prep cook, Alexander LaBracke didn’t realize what Melting Pot would come to mean to him. Just a few months into his employment, he joined a team meeting about an annual fundraiser supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and quickly realized he was in a room (and a nationwide system) of unique people.

After working his way up, LaBracke took over the Melting Pot in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2015. As the restaurant celebrates 20 years in the community and LaBracke approaches his 10th leadership anniversary, he is reflecting on what the past 20 years of Melting Pot has meant to the Fort Collins community and what he hopes for the future.

“We’re part of a nationwide franchise, but we are Fort Collins. We are Northern Colorado,” he said. “We belong to the community.”

LaBracke took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. 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?

Alexander LaBracke: After starting college at Colorado State without a clear direction, I decided to pause and work until I figured things out. That led me to a family-owned Lebanese restaurant, where I spent a few years learning the ins and outs of running a small business. I loved it, but the pay wasn’t sustainable, so I looked for something else. 

A friend recommended the Melting Pot, where I started as a prep cook in 2011. Within months, I found myself as the senior person in the kitchen — basically learning on the job and employing the classic “fake it till you make it” approach. That’s how my journey with Melting Pot began. By 2015, I took over.

A memory that still stands out to me was my first staff meeting where we discussed St. Jude’s Thanks and Giving campaign. I started in August, and that meeting was in October. I was just blown away by all the people in the room and their passion for the mission. I’d never seen anything like it, and as I looked around the room, I knew it was a great group of people. I was hooked.

1851: Melting Pot of Fort Collins is celebrating 20 years this month, and next year will mark a decade of your leadership. What has the restaurant meant for the community over the years, and what are some of your favorite memories?

LaBracke: The Thanks and Giving campaign has been a big deal at the Fort Collins restaurant. We’ve been the top performing location for over 10 years.

Fort Collins won Restaurant of the Year a couple years in a row, and I was nominated for operator of the year in 2020. 

All of these official recognitions are nice, but there are other aspects of the role that are super fulfilling. We have many tenured employees, and I take a lot of pride in seeing the lifelong friendships formed through Melting Pot. There are former employees who have since graduated college or moved on to other careers, but they’re still best friends with someone they met at Melting Pot. There are almost 10 couples who are now married, and they originally worked together at Melting Pot. Those types of things warm my heart.

In terms of the guests, we celebrate every day. We had someone come in for their 100th birthday last week; that was very fun. People look to us for their birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and when they buy their first home. There are people who travel four hours from Wyoming and Nebraska to celebrate with us. Being able to come to work and celebrate with our community is one of the best parts of the job.

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

LaBracke: Being in the business of giving people lasting memories is really fun, and I saw that even when I was working as a prep cook. I love it, but I also see how much people love it. When I’m getting my hair cut, going to the store or just making small talk out and about, I see people’s faces light up when I tell them that my career is Melting Pot.

Melting Pot isn’t just where people go when they’re hungry. It’s something that they plan ahead for. They say, “It’s my birthday. I’m going to circle it on the calendar, save up for an extravagant meal, dress up and have a great time.” 

That excites me, and seeing my team excited for the same reasons is even better.

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

LaBracke: At Melting Pot, we’re all about the perfect night out. That’s the mission. I would advise people that achieving that perfect night out starts with giving the staff the perfect night out — making Melting Pot the best possible place to work.

If the staff is happy, they’re going to naturally give that same joy to the guests. When they show up at the table smiling and they truly love their jobs, they’ll find ways to go above and beyond and create lasting memories for the guests.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know? Is there anything you want the Fort Collins community to know?

LaBracke: We wouldn’t be here without the members of our community. We wouldn't be as successful with things like St. Jude and our other fundraising. We wouldn’t be on the map if it weren’t for the generosity of the people in our community.

When we opened in 2004 and I came on board in 2011, we were kind of on the outskirts of town. Many people didn’t really know about us because we were a block or two away from true downtown. The fact that we were supported that whole time, which allowed the town to sort of march toward us, is amazing. We’re now in the downtown area, and we’re a staple in the community.

We’re part of a nationwide franchise, but we are Fort Collins. We are Northern Colorado. We belong to the community.

1851: What do you see for the next 20 years for Melting Pot Fort Collins?

LaBracke: I hope to see my team start taking over more for me. I want to teach and mentor others, just like my predecessors did for me, so they can take the torch and continue the legacy.

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.