Modern Market Eatery expanded its presence in 2023, opening restaurants in new and current markets, including its first new franchised location and drive-thru restaurant. The brand continues to expand in the new year with 42 locations in the pipeline slated to open over the next six to seven years. In addition to new growth, the brand started its first extensive remodel project in brand history to update its legacy Colorado restaurants.

In 2023, the brand opened three new restaurants, which included the following: 

• One new company-owned location in Aurora, Colorado, in March. 
• The brand’s first ever drive-through restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in November. 
• The brand’s first franchised restaurant, owned by multiunit franchisor Thrive Restaurant Group, in Kansas City, Missouri, in December, with plans to open seven additional locations in Kansas City over the next six to seven years.
• A new value-engineered restaurant build-out, which reduced construction costs by almost 15%. 

In addition to opening its Kansas City location, Thrive Restaurant Group purchased three company-owned Modern Market Eatery locations and has plans to open 39 more over the next several years in seven distinct markets.

“Through working with our first franchisee, Thrive Restaurant Group, we were able to further expand our mission to make fast, healthy eating more affordable and accessible to families nationwide in 2023,” said Modern Market Eatery co-founder and President Rob McColgan. “We feel inspired by this past year’s growth and are taking the momentum into 2024 with new market entries, higher unit counts and a new restaurant design that will lower construction costs to spur new development.”

The brand continues to expand from coast to coast with targeted goals to recruit new franchisees in Salt Lake City, Houston, Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Columbus, Tucson, Dallas, and more.

“In addition to our priority markets, our growth strategy also prioritizes potential franchisees not by location, but by existing multiunit restaurant experience and culture fit regardless of where they want to open restaurants,” said Modern Market Eatery Chief Development Officer Chris Cheek. “This approach has allowed us to thoughtfully expand and ensure that new franchisees are supported and find success in their markets.”