Ford's Storage revs up for progress

Driving Force: Ford's Garage revs up for growth

The Ford Motor Firm has a wealthy historical past as one of many nation’s most vital producers. That historical past additionally interprets to a reasonably cool eating expertise, as Ford’s Storage has confirmed over the previous 10 years at its rising variety of eating places throughout the U.S.

In 2012, the unique Ford’s Storage opened in Fort Myers, Florida, lower than a mile from Henry Ford’s former winter house. Since then, the corporate has expanded to incorporate a complete of 21 places throughout 5 states (Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas). Listed below are a number of the issues that make our model what it’s immediately.

The distinctive energy of Ford. When Ford’s Storage opened, there was no affiliation with the automotive pioneer. The idea later caught the eye of the carmaker, leading to a singular licensing settlement between the 2 firms. At present, Ford’s Storage is the primary and solely restaurant idea allowed the rights to Ford’s iconic blue oval brand, in addition to different Ford model belongings and historic images.

Unparalleled vibe. The Ford’s Storage expertise is not like every other and attracts a really broad market. It’s not pretentious. It has a terrific vibe and power together with a terrific burger, craft beer, and luxury meals choice. It’s a very snug, inviting surroundings that’s distinctive to the informal eating house.

Every restaurant is designed to appear like a gasoline station from the Nineteen Twenties and is crammed to the brim with Ford memorabilia, together with classic autos, fixtures, and gasoline pumps, in addition to a Mannequin T or Mannequin A automotive suspended above the middle bar. Servers sport mechanic shirts. Blue store cloths double as napkins. Even the bars inside our eating places are decidedly classic, mixing Prohibition-era parts like brick, richly coloured woods, and hand-hammered copper bar tops. Extra distinctive options, too quite a few to listing right here, make Ford’s Storage a enjoyable place to go to and take photos. Each facet is branded, and it’s a whole lot of enjoyable for everybody.

Nostalgic, handcrafted American fare. Our menu drives broad visitor enchantment with nostalgic, handcrafted American fare. Burgers are the principle draw. Black Angus beef (and a vegetarian choice) are coupled with all-natural aged cheeses, recent toppings, and sauces on artisanal buns branded with the Ford’s Storage brand. The eating places additionally specialise in standard consolation meals choices like home made meatloaf, hen wings and tenders, onion rings, and macaroni and cheese. Lighter fare resembling recent salads, grilled hen, and seafood choices are additionally out there. The bars spotlight 100+ varieties of beer, together with greater than 30 drafts on faucet, with an emphasis on native microbreweries. There’s additionally an intensive liquor choice with inventive specialty drinks, wine, cocktails, and nonalcoholic choices.

Revving the engine on growth. Progress is admittedly accelerating with the biggest unit improvement push in our firm historical past. We’re extremely happy with how far we’ve come and are enthusiastic about the place we’re going. With our many Ford-inspired design cues and first-rate meals and repair, Ford’s Storage guarantees to proceed to encourage further places all throughout the nation.

Our expectation is to open round 10 new eating places in 2023 after which 10 to fifteen shops per 12 months starting in 2024. We’re drawing curiosity from our core group of franchisees, new franchise operators, and Ford dealerships that desire a restaurant of their city. We additionally can be increasing with company and three way partnership places. Improvement offers have already been signed in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky.

By way of measurement, our eating places vary from 6,500 to about 9,000 s.f. The candy spot is roughly 7,500 s.f., with 240 to 250 seats and about 1,500 s.f. of exterior patio house. Every restaurant has between 95 and 115 workers.

We look ahead to welcoming new franchise improvement companions to the household and serving up much more of our burgers nationwide with a facet of automotive historical past. Together with a franchise price of $70,000, the whole funding to open a Ford’s Storage restaurant ranges from $1,461,800 to $6,353,000.

Steve Shlemon is president of Ford’s Storage.