What started as a dream in 2010, has now become an expansion opportunity beyond dreams? When Tropical Grille based restaurant first opened, they were not sure that the fast-casual Cuban-inspired cuisine would be accepted or not. Fast forward nine years and they have six locations and plan to open 10 to 12 more with impending growth outside of South Carolina.
Tropical Grille’s five-year plan includes expanding to Asheville, outside of Atlanta Georgia and in Hickory North Carolina with franchises in Charleston and Columbia. There are already two restaurants under construction in Spartanburg and Charlotte.
How does a startup restaurant become this popular? Well since they opened, Tropical Grille has been modifying and changing itself into a brand that is replicable. Their beginning goal was always to have more than one restaurant. They listened, watched and created opportunities for their employees within the company.
With the public requesting more healthy options, Tropical Grille has listened and moved their cuisine deliberated toward it. They eliminated MSG and artificial flavors. Added options for brown or cauliflower moving away from white and yellow.
So now that you are growing, what do you do next? You branch out into breakfast! Their new menu will bring in about 10 to 12 items, inexpensive that will give you quick healthy options for breakfast. And that means changing hours so they will open at 7 am instead of 11 am.
Look for the new menu to come in September. “Improving our brand is constant,” Dan Pope, Executive Vice President said. “We are learning a lot.”
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