Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom Drives Franchise Growth Set for New Heights 

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is primed for growth uniquely poised to take pizza and craft beer to the next level with the right franchise fit. 

With more than 100 restaurants open, and development agreements for 60 more locations inked for the next four years, Old Chicago continues to look for strong franchise partners to expand as a leading, innovative brand and pioneer of casual dining’s taproom to table concept, says Josh Kern, chief experience officer CraftWorks Holdings, Old Chicago’s parent company and the nation’s largest craft brewery restaurant operator. 

“Old Chicago is perfect in any part of the country, and we are focused on finding the right partners versus targeting specific markets,” says Kern. “We believe that Old Chicago fits in a unique space and requires hospitality-focused partners, and we work hard to find those opportunities.” 

Old Chicago is not just a pizza joint or just a taproom. Founded in 1976 as the Craft Beer Authority, the brand is known for hand-crafted pizza and craveable, shareable fare that pairs perfectly with a world-class craft beer. Industry-leading repeat guests are Old’s Chicago’s core customers.

 “The brand is perfect for a diverse lunch, offers great dinner options, great bar all the time, and a robust happy hour,” says Kern. “OC is also ideal as a place to bring the kids’ soccer team on a Saturday and a bar retreat for the softball team after league games. Finally, take-out and delivery, plus pizza and wings, makes for a compelling consumer proposition.”

The relaxed, fun, family-friendly atmosphere has also made Old Chicago a standout franchise opportunity in the restaurant space. The brand has welcomed 10 new restaurants to the fold in the last year, with four more locations set to open in the coming months. By year-end 2019, Old Chicago will have a presence in 25 states. 

 “Old Chicago offers consumers so many options to access the brand from team functions, family occasions, sports on TV, great operational support, and a best-in-class loyalty program designed to drive traffic,” notes Kern. 

With two decades of franchise experience and the mega financial muscle and buying power of parent CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries, Inc., Old Chicago has made significant investments to fuel growth and position its franchisees for success—and it shows. 

The brand’s state-of-the art loyalty engine drives more than 30 percent of total sales at Old Chicago, which also provides franchisees with clear metrics to engage guests at their locations.  For franchise partners, it adds up to an average unit volume of $2.8 million, and franchise family with a constant quest to be the best. 

“We are constantly looking for improvements when it comes to quality and making sure we have the food and beer that people are looking for when dining out,” Kern says. 

Kern says Old Chicago seeks to grow with “high-integrity and passionate individuals and partnerships.” 

“We look for people with accountability for results, a relentless desire for improvement, a passion for serving, and respect for people,” Kern says.

Ready to join the Old Chicago family? Head over ocfranchising.com to learn more about your franchise opportunity.

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