As Detroit reinvents itself and a wave of companies bring their employees to the City, a hot, new concept in fast casual dining will be added to the GM Renaissance Center – the first Sweet Lorraine’s Fabulous Mac n’ Cheez! franchised location. Fast casual dining is the newest concept and highest growth category in the ultra-competitive restaurant business. And, award-winning chef Lorraine Platman may be the next ‘big cheese’ in franchising thanks to Sweet Lorraine’s Fabulous Mac n’ Cheez! and the signing of her first franchisee.
Entrepreneur Randy Dickow of West Bloomfield, Mich. is the first franchisee for Sweet Lorraine’s Fabulous Mac n’ Cheez! Construction is expected to be completed by February 2014, and he is planning a second franchise location in metro Detroit.
“We’re just getting started and already having franchise discussions in Michigan, Florida, and Texas,” said Paul Bensman, Sweet Lorraine’s Fabulous Mac n’ Cheez! director of franchising. There are presently two corporate owned locations – The Somerset Collection in Troy, Mich., and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills, Mich. Additional corporate locations in Toledo, Ohio and East Lansing, Mich., are scheduled to open in December 2013, with plans to secure 10 – 12 more franchised locations in the next 18 months.
Known for her delicious macaroni and cheese at the award winning Sweet Lorraine’s restaurants, chef Lorraine Platman is bringing those recipes and more to a whole new dining experience at Sweet Lorraine’s Fabulous Mac n’ Cheez!
“I’ve spent 30 years perfecting my distinctive and delicious macaroni and cheese recipes, and now with Sweet Lorraine’s Fabulous Mac n’ Cheez!, we are able to give our customers the highest quality food with fresh and interesting ingredients quickly and conveniently.” Platman has created the ultimate comfort food by allowing guests to create billions of palate-pleasing combinations using 37 optional ingredients. Customers order and watch as servers assemble their cheesy, fresh, hot dish. Soups, salads and sandwich wraps are also available.
“Customers are looking for fun, high-quality food on the go and Lorraine has created the perfect menu for that lifestyle,” said Gary Sussman, Sweet Lorraine’s Fabulous Mac n’ Cheez! president and CEO. “Franchise investors recognize that we’ve created a completely new category of fast casual restaurants with tremendous potential for growth.”