Later in the year, the Fort Myers, Florida-based Rib City chain will open its 17th franchise at the new Grant Station in Grant-Valkaria, a community just south of Melbourne on Florida’s East Coast. Located at 5390 US Hwy 1, the site was formerly the Grant Grocer and the town’s original post office. The antique-themed Grant Station is planned to be an entertainment destination and will also host an ice cream shop, open-air market and an entertainment barn. The 70-seat full service restaurant will feature the Rib City menu of barbecued meats, sauces and complementary side dishes such as made-from-scratch baked beans and coleslaw. Rib City achieves authentic backyard barbecue flavor by slowly cooking baby back ribs and chicken over selected hardwoods, including Red Oak, balancing heat and cooking time to seal in the distinctive taste. Additional menu items include fried okra, three-cheese fries, fried shrimp, coconut cream and Southern pecan pies, etc. Founded in Fort Myers in 1989, Rib City is celebrating 25 years of operation in 2014. The family-owned national barbecue chain currently has twelve corporate restaurants in Florida with ten locations in Southwest Florida, and 16 franchise restaurants across the country including Washington, Utah, Colorado, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and Virginia. The restaurants presently range in size from 2600 to 4000 square feet with 3000 to 3500 square feet being the recommended size for a 110-seat restaurant.
CATEGORY: Casual, Full Service
Chain Name: Rib City
Company Name: Rib City Franchising LLC
Street Address: 2122 Second St., Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Tel: 239/334-8634 Fax: 239/332-7232
Email: Website: www.ribcity.com
Menu Specialty: Barbecued meats, sauces and complementary side dishes such as made-from-scratch baked beans and coleslaw. Additional menu items include fried okra, three-cheese fries, fried shrimp, coconut cream and Southern pecan pies, etc.
Introduced: First BBQ restaurant opened in Fort Myers, Florida in 1989. With partners, Paul and Craig Peden, the Rib City banner was adopted in 1992. Launched a franchise program in 2004.
No. of Locations: Twelve corporate restaurants in Florida and 16 franchise restaurants in Washington, Utah, Colorado, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and Virginia.
Areas of Operation:
Types of Location: Free standing, End cap in upscale anchored center, Conversions.
BusinessType (corp., franchise, jv): Corporate & Franchise
Size Req’d: Currently ranges from 2600 to 4000 square feet with 3000 to 3500 square feet the recommended size for a 110-seat restaurant.
Special Requirements (patio, drive-thru, etc): Combination of retail, residential and office in the surrounding area.Minimum 50,000 people within five miles with at least 50 percent in the 25 to 65 year age group. Average household income at $50,000 and over. Convenient access, visibility and parking.
Contact Name: Craig Peden – President
Beth Watson – Director, Marketing
REAL ESTATE REPRESENTATIVES:
FRANCHISE REPRESENTATIVES:
PARENT COMPANY: Rib City Franchising LLC, Fort Myers, Florida
Related Chains:
Last Report: Restaurant & QSR Expansion Report #118 Last Update:
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