For many, it is a struggle to remember their college days (for various reasons that shall go unmentioned). However, one thing you rarely forget is that one amazing dish you always craved from your go-to food spot. You know what we’re talking about…
It’s that place where you and your friends look at each other at least 4-5 times a week, and it almost goes without saying when you yell across the street, “Meet you at…” or you are sitting in your dorm room or college house, and your roommate asks, “What do you want?” It’s clearly understood what you’re asking about and where you’re going to get it.
It’s that place where when you graduate, move off campus, and start your life, you often think to yourself: “I would give ANYTHING for some of that food right now.”
Sometimes, those are one-off dining establishments unique to the college or town, with no aspirations of growing beyond what they are. However, others use their popularity as the inspiration that fuels their ambition to reach for something more.
King of The Campus: The Art of Choosing Dank Franchise Locations
The fastest growing franchises understand the importance of vetting franchise locations. The best of the best will help franchisees consider their franchise location. When considering which franchise brand is the right fit for you, we here at Dank Burrito are looking for franchisee candidates who do more than type “franchises for sale near me” into a search window. Choosing the right location is about more than convenience. It’s about connecting with a brand you align with and having a vision and strategy for where you want to go next.
To borrow from Stephen R. Covey’s 7 Habits, “Start with the end in mind.” Your goal should not be that your first franchise location will be your last. Instead, it should be your path.
How We Support The Franchise Location Hunt
Dank Burrito supports our franchisee’s site selection efforts in identifying the best franchise locations in their chosen territory. By utilizing software that works with the demographic and psychographic profiles of our customer base, we’re able to help franchisees identify hubs with a dense population base within a 5-7 minute drive of the potential location. We then work with real estate agents selected by our franchisees to identify available properties. Finally, we travel to our franchisee’s new location to be with them for the walk-throughs while offering our advice and expertise.
Dank Burrito locations within minutes of college campuses:
- Raleigh, NC: located 8 minutes from N.C. State University Campus
- Rock Hill, SC: located 7 minutes from Winthrop University Campus
- Greenville, NC: located 7 minutes from East Carolina University Campus
From College Towns to Hometowns: The Ripple Effect
The reason college campuses can make for great first time franchise locations is because very few students make their college town their “forever home”. That is just different from how it normally plays out. They spend their 4 (or 6) years at a school and go out into the world to live their lives.
So, while they may have fallen in love with a restaurant franchise during their college years, they are thrilled, often beyond words when they learn their favorite fast casual franchise is opening in their current town. They are “in the know” and will be among the first to bring their inner circle to relive those moments of collegiate culinary bliss once again.
A collection of one-and-done franchise locations is not the game plan we envision for our franchisees. It has been proven time and again that what starts out as a frat house favorite can grow into one of the fastest growing franchises in the industry.
Here is a short list of brands that successfully leveraged their college campus origins to build a loyal customer base and expand their reach nationwide:
- Raising Cane’s – Launched at Louisiana State University, this chain focused on chicken fingers and has since expanded significantly.
- Jimmy John’s – Founded near Eastern Illinois University, it has become a well-known sandwich shop chain.
- Smoothie King – Started near Tulane University, offering a variety of healthy smoothies.
- Pita Pit – Originated in Ontario, Canada, near Queen’s University, and has expanded into the U.S. market.
- Insomnia Cookies – Started at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in late-night cookie deliveries.
- MOD Pizza – Originated near the University of Washington, focusing on fast-casual, customizable pizzas.
Qdoba Mexican Eats – Initially opened as Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill near the University of Denver, Qdoba has become a popular choice for its customizable Mexican cuisine.
Coming To A Dank Conclusion
College campuses are not the only way to think about where you put your first Dank Burrito franchise location. They can however be a great way to build a following and then have dedicated and loyal customers already in place when you are ready to expand your Dank empire with additional units.
We appeal to college students because, let’s face it, we are Dank. Our graffiti-clad walls and storefronts mesh well with our outside-of-the-box flavor combinations. We have a sense of humor about who we are, which is reflected in how we advertise to our consumer base and prospective franchisee candidates. Just like the dreams of many are launched on the streets of college campuses all over the US, so too can your franchise dream of dominating the market in your territory become a reality.
If you’re ready to roll with Dank Burrito and spice up your entrepreneurial journey today, check out our Franchise opportunities. Your next life-changing opportunity is just one click away!
Clarke Merrell is the Executive Chef and Owner of several restaurants in North Carolina, including Dank Burrito Franchise, Circa 81 Tapas & Cockatileria, Beaufort Olive Oil Company, and Merrell Estate & Gardens.
