Smaller chains with odd locations

Ever come across a small to medium-sized chain that has most of its locations in a single state or area but 1 or 2 completely elsewhere?  For example, the Rocky Rococo Pizza chain is based here in WI but has stores in Brooklyn Park, MN and Spokane, WA.  The MN location isn't too surprising since the Twin Cities aren't that far from WI, but Spokane?  How that one got started is beyond me.
 
Portillo's is another one.  They're all over the Chicagoland area but there are also singles in Buena Park and Moreno Valley, CA.
 
(We ordered from Rocky's today and that's how I got to thinking about this.)

Portillo's opened their first California store to satisfy requests from Chicago ex-pats, the 2nd probably because the first was popular!

Triple XXX Drive In, Root Beer a once multiple state chain has 2 locations. One in West Lafayette, In and one in Issaquah, Wa.

Primanti Brothers has 17 locations around Western Pennsylvania, plus three more in SE Florida.  I assume this is for ex-Pittsburghers in the area.  Probably the same reason why you will find five Skyline Chili locations in Florida.
 
And there are seven Ted's Hot Dogs locations in Western New York, plus one in Tempe, AZ.

How about Kewpee Burger with one location (the original) in Lima, Ohio, and a second outpost in Racine, Wisconsin.  The really unusual thing for me as a Chicagoan, is that I've twice been to the one in Lima, but never visited the Racine location, less than 50 miles from my home.
 
Buddy
 
Kewpee Burger
111 North Elizabeth Street
Lima, OH
(419) 228-1778
 
520 Wisconsin Ave
Racine, Wisconsin
(262) 634-9601

Billy Goat Tavern ('Cheezborger Cheezborger') has locations all over Chicagoland, and one in Washington, D.C. 
 

Cluck-U (U is for University of course) has locations in NJ MD a few in PA one in OH...and one international location...in Lebanon.

One psssible reason for the Minneapolis-Spokane connection -- in the olden days, Northwest had frequent non-stop flights between Spokane and Minneapolis.
 
They must have had that route for SOME reason, though I agree it's not as clear as is the Minneapolis/Naples, FL/Scottsdale, AZ connections that cater to snowbirds. 

Buddy-
There is also a Kewpee Lunch in downtown Lansing, not too far from the state capitol building.  All are really good! 

G. D. Ritzy's has three locations in Evansville, Indiana and one location in West Virginia.  Maybe a stray location somewhere else.   They used to be all over the map.
 

Chicken Express is a good one.  Dozens and dozens of stores all over Texas, and three in small towns that ring Athens GA: Lexington, Watkinsville and Danielsville

Heartbreaksoup


Chicken Express is a good one.  Dozens and dozens of stores all over Texas, and three in small towns that ring Athens GA: Lexington, Watkinsville and Danielsville

Same can be said of Fuzzy's Tacos - another truly fine Texas franchise that is reaching "critical mass" very quickly.  It took Five Guys more than 10 years to get to 4 locations - all in NoVa; then, KA-BLAM!

eruby


Billy Goat Tavern ('Cheezborger Cheezborger') has locations all over Chicagoland, and one in Washington, D.C. 

 
They can have a million locations and they will still be terrible. Been to the original and hated it. Boring and tasteless, would only be good if John Belushi severed you personally and that's not going to happen. 

kland01s

eruby


Billy Goat Tavern ('Cheezborger Cheezborger') has locations all over Chicagoland, and one in Washington, D.C. 

They can have a million locations and they will still be terrible. Been to the original and hated it. Boring and tasteless, would only be good if John Belushi severed you personally and that's not going to happen. 

You have your skits crossed...that would be his samurai character.

Sometimes a person will buy a franchise far away from the original. There is a place called the Rib Crib in Lakeland, Fl. There are no others in Florida but dozens in Oklahoma.

Or... they're giving a relative a job.

ScreamingChicken

kland01s

eruby


Billy Goat Tavern ('Cheezborger Cheezborger') has locations all over Chicagoland, and one in Washington, D.C. 

They can have a million locations and they will still be terrible. Been to the original and hated it. Boring and tasteless, would only be good if John Belushi severed you personally and that's not going to happen. 

You have your skits crossed...that would be his samurai character.

 
Oh come on Brad....   don't you remember Cheezborger, pepsi, no coke from SNL?!
 
http://www.hulu.com/watch...the-olympia-restaurant

kland, you missed your own misspelling:  You wrote "severed" instead of "served".
 
You would be served a cheezborger, but severed by a samurai, hence the ChickenMan's joke.
 
Buddy

Gottcha! Oops!

ScreamingChicken


Ever come across a small to medium-sized chain that has most of its locations in a single state or area but 1 or 2 completely elsewhere?  For example, the Rocky Rococo Pizza chain is based here in WI but has stores in Brooklyn Park, MN and Spokane, WA.  The MN location isn't too surprising since the Twin Cities aren't that far from WI, but Spokane?  How that one got started is beyond me.

 
I am familiar with Rocky Rococo.  (In fact, that chain was the first to come to mind when I saw this thread since I am familiar with the fact they have a location in Washington state!)  I used to follow their restaurant development, and for a while they had restaurants in Illinois (Carpentersville, as well as Champaign, where I went a few times myself!) and Kentucky.  One person here in Dayton said they had a location there circa 1980.

Also, Cousins Subs, another Wisconsin outfit, with most restaurants in Wisconsin, but a handful in Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, plus Arizona.  In the past they have had locations in Texas (DFW area), Indiana (tried to crack the Indianapolis market c. 2000, then they added a location in Scottsburg, closer to Louisville) and California (Victorville).

Its a larger chain, but Chick Fil A has three locations locally in New England - one in New Hampshire and two in Mass. I think that they only have one in NY.

45013


I am familiar with Rocky Rococo.  (In fact, that chain was the first to come to mind when I saw this thread since I am familiar with the fact they have a location in Washington state!)  I used to follow their restaurant development, and for a while they had restaurants in Illinois (Carpentersville, as well as Champaign, where I went a few times myself!) and Kentucky.  One person here in Dayton said they had a location there circa 1980.

There was a Rocky's on 75th Street in either Woodridge or Darien (Chi-burbs for those not familiar with the area) for a few years back in the mid to late '80s but I believe it had closed by the early '90s.  The Chicago area's gotta be a tough pizza market to crack...

 
Local cheap and big style Mexican food from Abelardo's has locations in Omaha, Des Moines, Wichita, and Spokane Valley WA. They are bringing a California/Arizona style taqueria to the midwest. Many of these are put in buildings that once housed other fast food restaurants. Worth checking out, but maybe not worth going out of your way.
 
http://abelardosmexicanfood.com/locations/

The Hal Smith Group of restaurants include, Charleston's, Hefner Grill, Krispy Kreme's, Louie's Grill & Bar, Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, Mama Roja's, Redrock Canyon Grill, Ted's Cafe Escondido, Toby Kieth's I Love This Bar & Grill, and Upper Crust Pizza. There's only a couple of each and they're scattered around OK, NB, TX, AZ, MO, AR.
Most are in OK. They are a restaurant management company that operates 10 concepts in 7 states with over 50 locations.

Foodbme


The Hal Smith Group of restaurants include, Charleston's, Hefner Grill, Krispy Kreme's, Louie's Grill & Bar, Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, Mama Roja's, Redrock Canyon Grill, Ted's Cafe Escondido, Toby Kieth's I Love This Bar & Grill, and Upper Crust Pizza.

 
What?  Was Krispy Kreme sold to Hal Smith Group?

Hal Smith is the franchisee for KK for Oklahoma

Some of these are due to expansion and then contraction.  I remember when I lived in Minneapolis, there were a fair number of Rocky Rococo's, but they were on the decline then (my officemate was from Milwaukee, and he loved going to the Rocky's in Dinkytown).
 
Ted's Hot Dogs, as mentioned above, is to me the classic example.   I've had several people from the Buffalo area be surprised that I'm a Ted's fan, having grown up with Ted's in Tempe (it was, and still is, a favorite spot for my parents to lunch after church on Sunday).
 
A related concept is restaurants that are either dead, or essentially dead, in their native area, but managed to keep alive franchises in other areas like overseas.  I've got a friend in the Philippines that likes Kenny Roger's Roasters....

George Webb-lots of locations in Milwaukee.....
 

ann peeples


George Webb-lots of locations in Milwaukee.....

 
George who?