Chicago native and restaurant industry guru David Grossman signed a master franchise deal to open 80 Freshii locations throughout Chicago.

After working with Subway for seven years, opening more than 100 restaurants in the Chicago area, Grossman spent the past 12 years with General Growth Properties leasing spaces to hundreds of different restaurants ranging from Mrs. Fields Cookies and Wetzel’s Pretzels to McDonald’s, Corner Bakery, Panera Bread, Olive Garden, and Cheesecake Factory.

There are currently 14 units in Toronto and Chicago as well as stores in development in Los Angeles. Grossman’s territory plans for up to 80 stores over the next 10 years.

Grossman recently signed a lease for his first location in Chicago’s Water Tower Place on N. Michigan Avenue to open in June 2009. Water Tower Place is Chicago’s premier shopping destination with a stunning eight-level atrium featuring more than 100 stores, restaurants and boutiques.

Grossman has another lease signed for Block 37, a new development at 108 North State Street in the Loop community area of downtown Chicago that will offer an array restaurants and retail, and is scheduled to open in September 2009. He hopes to open four corporate stores in 2009 and five more in 2010. Grossman then plans to franchise locations to qualified individuals.

Freshii’s popularity has skyrocketed since its doors opened in 2005, winning Freshii the title of Best New Retail Concept in Canada during its first year of business.