COVID-19 has not slowed down plans for Gosh Enterprises Inc., a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes Charleys Philly Steaks, BIBIBOP Asian Grill and Lennys Grill & Subs. The Columbus, Ohio-based company is developing over 100 restaurants in 2021, including doubling the footprint of Charleys Philly Steaks by opening over 50 units and starting a pilot program this month with Walmart, opening 10 locations within the retail supercenter chain early next year.
“We’ve been working for the past three years to refine the Charleys’ brand and financial model outside of the traditional mall food court with the goal of over $900,000 average unit volumes in efficiently sized 2,000 square-foot locations,” Boyd Hoback, Gosh’s president of Shared Services, said in the release. “The brand has evolved with a separate chicken category featuring classic and boneless wings, while retaining the legacy menu of Charleys that has proven to be so popular.”
Bruce Kim, VP of development for Charleys, said the brand was seeking individual and multi-unit franchisees to help it reach its goal of hitting 1,000 stores over the next few years.
Gosh, which bought Lennys Grill & Subs last year and refined its menu and operating systems, said Lenny’s has experienced same-store sales increases in the mid- to high-single digits.
“2020 was really a time for hitting the pause button on development,” Elias Moaikel, president of Lennys Grill & Subs, said in the release. “We learned a lot and took the opportunity to lay a solid foundation for growth. We anticipate adding about 10 new locations in 2021.”
Finally, BIBIBOP Asian Grill will add 15 locations in 2021, growing its company-owned store base to 58 locations. The healthy Asian concept has recently added a path to partnership for general managers who demonstrate operational excellence. The first two partners were named this month, with more to come.
In total, Gosh expects its location count to rise from 760 locations to 860 locations by the end of 2021.
