Thursday, January 2, 2025

[EXCLUSIVE] "Cheesy" Franchise Looks to Metro Atlanta to Grow US Presence

A new kind of restaurant is coming soon to Georgia.  Meltwich Food Co., a Toronto-based franchise, plans to open its first southeast location in the Atlanta suburb of Tucker!  The new restaurant will open in Cofer Crossing (4367 Lawrenceville Highway) where it will occupy a 1,400 square foot space.

The Meltwich space is situated between The Juicy Crab and HomeGoods in the Kroger and Walmart anchored center and was most recently home to the locally owned all-day eatery Honey Joe Cafe.

It's unclear what drew the growing franchise to Georgia or to Tucker, but the menu certainly provides at least one item those in the peach state, and especially those in Tucker, may not have seen on many menus: poutine (interestingly called "hot mess fries" on the US menu).  Poutine, a popular Canadian offering, is basically French fries with gravy and cheese curds.  

Tom Mavrou opened the first Meltwich in Toronto in 2015 and has since expanded the concept to about 60 locations across Canada.  Meltwich entered the US market this past November with a location in Houston's Rice Village and according to the website has new locations planned - in addition to Tucker - for Chicago, Boston and Portsmouth, Virginia.  (College towns like Rice Village would seem to make the most sense for this concept.)  The company has said it plans to open 20 franchises across the US in 2025.        

The Meltwich menu is centered on things served with cheese - be they burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, fries or Phillies.  The restaurant also offers a few vegan offerings like a vegan melt, vegan chick'n strips and an Impossible burger.  The change of the poutine labeling was likely done to cater to US consumers far more familiar with fries than with poutine.  That said, the restaurant offering soda and referring to it as pop, and for that "pop" to be Pepsi...is a questionable move.  

Meltwich will look to thrive where other chains like Tom+Chee have struggled but their menu with so many different options and ingredients will likely make maintaining quality and consistency difficult.  

Another cheesy chain, I Heart Mac & Cheese, which focuses on macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches, had for years displayed on their website that several locations were coming soon to metro Atlanta but alas none ever did.  Today, following the closure of a franchise in Athens, the brand's sole presence in the state is in Augusta.  

Are you excited about the opening of Meltwich?  Do you think the Meltwich concept will do well in Tucker?  What type of restaurant would you most like to see open in Tucker?

Please share your thoughts below.  

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

hats what Tucker Ga needs is another fast food joint to round things out. What Tucker really needs is a nice restaurant where people can sit down and have an enjoyable meal without sorry music, screaming children, piano bar music, and a totally relaxed atmosphere

Anonymous said...

I think it will do well & Tucker is the perfect location

Anonymous said...

I'm excited about Meltwich opening especially in Tucker. It's in a busy shopping center with plenty of parking so that's a plus. A menu based around melted cheese sounds good.

Anonymous said...

I love this concept. Cant wait to get authentic poutine.

Anonymous said...

I’m just excited to try their version of poutine !

Anonymous said...

I've lived in Tucker for over twenty years and this is a great addition to Tucker me and my family can't wait for them to open it's about time something new is coming to Cofer Plaza and I'm glad it's Meltwich

Anonymous said...

Good luck with that. Heh.

Anonymous said...

That menu is too dang large! A Philly on a hamburger bun? That's how y'all like em in Tucker?

On a side note, I don't know how Cook Out hasn't simplified their menu!

Anonymous said...

Really ? Rinse, repeat. Next up a yogurt place ? Mattress store ?

Anonymous said...

Or an e x t r a s p a c e ? ? S t o r e ? ?

Alex said...

Although not my cup of tea, the menu is essentially made up of 4 or 5 core items assembled in 20 different ways. Taco Bell essentially does the same thing.

Jodyml813 said...

You had me at poutine assuming it's decent poutine...

Anonymous said...

Poutine with extra smeg

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