Transparency in Franchising: Modern Market Eatery's Streamlined Opening Timeline

Opening a Modern Market Eatery franchise is an exciting journey, but understanding the timeline from signing the franchise agreement to making your first sale is crucial. Chris Cheek, chief development officer for Modern Restaurant Concepts, provides valuable insights into what this process looks like and how the brand has reduced the time to open.

The Opening Timeline: A Transparent Process

Modern Market Eatery has worked diligently to streamline the opening process for its franchisees, particularly for those operating in leased spaces within shopping centers, typically ranging from 2,500 to 3,000 square feet. 

“The unknown part of the timeline is finding a really good site,” said Cheek. “That can vary depending on the market. Some markets, especially smaller ones, might have better availability, while others do not. Generally, we advise franchisees to think of a three-to-six-month period to find the site and get it approved by the franchisor.”

Once a site is approved, the next step is lease negotiations, which usually take about six to eight weeks. “Typically, as a franchisee, you won’t start spending on an architect until your lease is executed.,” said Cheek. “It’s important to have your architect involved as early as possible, maybe even before lease negotiations. This is particularly crucial if the site is an existing restaurant that’s closed.”

Design and Construction: Key Milestones

After securing a lease, the architectural phase begins. “The architect will typically take about five weeks to draft a full set of plans that will go into permitting,” Cheek said. However, the permitting process can vary significantly. In some markets, it may take as little as six to eight weeks, while in others, it could extend to about three months.

Construction follows permitting and generally takes 100 to 120 days. From the time a franchisee signs the agreement to the opening day, the entire process typically spans 12 to 14 months.

Multi-Unit Development: Building a Pipeline

For those planning to open multiple units, the timeline becomes more efficient with each subsequent location. “When you’re working on your first restaurant, you’re also building the pipeline for subsequent ones,” said Cheek. “It’s not a linear process of 14 months for each location. As you open more restaurants, you’re not starting from ground zero each time.”

This approach allows franchisees to capitalize on efficiencies gained during the first opening, making the process faster and more cost-effective for future locations.

The Importance of Early Involvement and Strong Landlord Relationships

Cheek stresses the importance of getting involved early in the process to save costs. “All the time and money you save is done in the first third of the project, before you even start construction,” he said. “It’s hard to get mostly done and start trying to save money or time.”

Another critical factor is maintaining a strong relationship with landlords, especially in new markets. “Landlords like to run with the herd. The smaller the brand, the more important it is to stay close to them,” said Cheek. “While landlords might be more familiar with brands like Starbucks, when you’re a brand like Modern Market with a great build-out, menu and look, they might not know about you. It’s important to stay close.”

Financial Capacity: A Competitive Edge

Finally, the financial capacity of franchisees is a crucial consideration when securing competitive sites. “Good sites are competitive,” Cheek said, “and when landlords have a great endcap with lots of great brands interested, they’ll often ask, ‘How creditworthy is the tenant?’ Having your financial capacity well documented and in a presentable format is important. The landlord’s decision might come down to just that — are they going to default in two years? That’s important.”

By understanding the timeline and the importance of strategic relationships, prospective Modern Market Eatery franchisees can better navigate the opening process and position themselves for success.

For more information on franchising with Modern Market Eatery, visit: https://1851franchise.com/modern-market-eatery.