A Buffet of Franchise Growth

A proven Restaurant executive who helped drive strategic growth for worldwide icons McDonalds and Arby’s, has taken the reigns at Stevi B’s to put the emerging family pizza buffet concept on the national map. 

Jordan Krolick, president and CEO of Stevi B’s, America’s leading value oriented family pizza buffet Franchise concept, has designed a growth strategy that aims to more then triple the chain’s size over the next five years, moving outward from its core of restaurants in Atlanta. With a strong mix of both franchise and corporate owned restaurant locations, the strategic expansion calls for the system to exceed 100 units by 2013.

“Now more than ever, families are looking for ways to get out and have a good time without breaking the bank at mealtimes,” said Krolick, who, before getting into the restaurant industry, spent 10 years as an attorney, CPA and eventually partner in a Chicago-based investment banking firm. “Stevi B’s is growing with carefully selected franchisees at a pace that allows us to best serve our franchisees and maintain the distinct restaurant environment that defines our franchise concept.”
 
The planned growth of Stevi B’s builds upon the chain’s momentum established in 2008. Since the beginning of the year, Stevi B’s has signed development agreements to add 18 new locations to the franchise system. Included in the agreements is a pair of multiunit deals with experienced restaurant operators which will add a total of 13 new restaurants along Florida’s eastern and southern coasts during the next three years.

Already in 2008, new Stevi B’s franchise locations have opened in Gadsden, Alabama, Cleveland, Tennessee and Chesterfield Township, Michigan. Before the end of the year franchised units are slated to open in Cartersville, Georgia and Southaven, Michigan, and in early-2009 in Winder, Georgia, Gainesville, Georgia and West Palm Beach, Florida. A new corporate-owned restaurant in Columbia, South Carolina is also slated to open before the end of this year.

“We are attracting experienced restaurant operators with proven success in franchising,” said Krolick. “Stevi B’s has built a great reputation with consumers and as word spreads we are experiencing tremendous growth.”

With original menu items such as Loaded Baked Potato pizza and a warm décor featuring stonework and granite countertops in an open kitchen environment, Stevi B’s breaks through the blasé of buffets with an exciting fast casual concept. Creative pizzas include the Cheeseburger Deluxe, Chicken Fajita, Macaroni and Cheese and more, and are complemented with a fresh and full salad bar and enticing dessert selections. Buffet prices for adults typically vary from $5 to $5.79 and from $2.99 to $3.29 for children.

“Stevi B’s lets mom be the mealtime hero. When the decision is made to go to Stevi B’s, the whole family is high-fiving mom,” added Krolick. “Our value-driven offerings provided in a welcoming environment for adults and children keep customers coming back, often for multiple meals a week.”

Stevi B’s prototype store design reflects the chain’s commitment to fast casual dining, blending quick service with a casual dining atmosphere complete with multiple flat screen televisions. For adults, each Stevi B’s offers a laid back environment ideal for lunch and dinnertime discussions, and for children, the experience includes a retreat from the norm with a fun game zone.

Each store’s unwavering commitment to the community it serves further defines the Stevi B’s brand. On a nightly basis, all Stevi B’s locations offer to donate a percentage of sales to local school groups, community and religious organizations, local athletic teams and others. Plus, Stevi B’s provides Peel-A-Deal cards to youth groups at steep discounts which are resold as a fundraiser. 

About Stevi B’s
Stevi B’s, a national pizza buffet restaurant franchise, was founded in 1996 in Atlanta. Recently purchased by Argonne Capital, an Atlanta private equity firm focused on growing restaurant and retail companies that are market leaders with strong growth potential, Stevi B’s currently has 25 franchised and five company-owned locations in six states throughout the United States. With distinctive pizzas such as Loaded Baked Potato, Chicken Fajita, Cheeseburger Deluxe and Spinach Alfredo served fresh and at a great value in an atmosphere that is fun for adults and children, Stevi B’s is primed for growth throughout the United States.