Crushed Red Urban Bake & Chop Shop announced it signed a franchise development agreement to open three restaurants in O’Fallon, Missouri; Columbia, Missouri; and Overland Park, Kansas. The St. Louis–based franchise is known for chopped-to-order salads and artisan-crafted whole-grain pizzas served in an elevated fast-casual atmosphere.
The new Crushed Red locations in Missouri and Kansas will be owned and operated by St. Louis native Clint Anderson. With three popular locations in St. Louis, Anderson is looking forward to introducing Crushed Red to individuals outside of the Gateway City. This is a seminal year for Anderson as he celebrates the tenth anniversary of being named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s 2005-2006 class of Top 40 Under 40. He also serves as principal and shareholder at Assurance Agency, a top 50 insurance brokerage and consulting firm. Anderson is solidifying his position as a prominent business leader in the St. Louis area with the addition of Crushed Red to his portfolio. An experienced entrepreneur, he plans to have all three new Crushed Reds operating by the end of 2016.
“I’ve spent years working as a healthcare consultant, so I have seen what happens when there are no healthy food options available,” Anderson says. “Crushed Red lends a healthy and delicious choice for businessmen and women who are on the go, or who want to escape the office with a glass of wine and innovative salad. Families are also moving towards healthier options and putting an emphasis on the quality of what they’re eating, Crushed Red provides healthy options with high quality. I believe in the concept and I’m excited to introduce this progressive, artisan-fast restaurant to the local communities in Overland Park, Columbia, and O’Fallon.”
The menu features both salads and pizzas, as well as the option to customize your own salads and pizzas from a myriad of fresh ingredients. The salads are all chopped to order and organically dressed in front of the customer. The pizzas are built on the foundation of a whole-grain crust that was developed by Mike Marino, the former national director of baking operations for Panera Bread. The dough is stretched by hand, topped with an organic tomato sauce, and then baked in a gas-fired oven and served in 90 seconds. In addition to salad and pizza, Crushed Red also serves all-natural soups and savory appetizers. Wine and beer are also available.
“This franchise agreement marks a significant milestone for Crushed Red, as we continue to swiftly expand the brand outside of our St. Louis roots,” says Chris LaRocca, founder of Crushed Red and an award-winning restauranteur with more than 30 years in the restaurant business. “With the help of franchisees like Clint, Crushed Red is carving out our own distinctive niche in the fast-casual space that we have dubbed ‘Artisan Fast,’ serving up true artisan flavors—fast—in a welcoming and comfortable environment.”
