Bar-b-cutie Owners Cook Up New Look To Convey Chain's Flavor

(Thursday, October 06, 2005) - The owners of Bar-B-Cutie want it to be recognizable and distinct and reflect the food it sells, so they cooked up a building prototype for the restaurant. Bar-B-Cutie invested about $2,000 to develop the prototype, which was created by graphic design artist Steve Duffy. The fast-casual restaurant and catering company's rustic-appearing building has a full patio, strung lights and stacked hickory wood. Inside, wood predominates throughout and there is an old-fashioned "wash tub" sink for hand washing and a private window for to-go orders. "It just has the look and feel of something we've wanted to do for years," says Ronnie McFarland, Bar-BCutie president. Founded in 1950, Bar-B-Cutie is known for its hickory pit barbecue and baby back ribs, as well as a selection of Southern fare. In January 2004, McFarland and his son, Brett, decided to franchise the Bar-BCutie concept to build a presence nationwide, with assistance from Franchise Growth Systems of Mesa, Arizona. As a result of their efforts, Bar-B-Cutie Franchise Systems LLC was formed to market single, master and multi-units. Bar-B-Cutie has 100 employees, operates two company-owned stores and three franchise restaurants in Tennessee. Franchise restaurants are opening in Murfreesboro in 30 to 45 days and in Memphis this coming winter. Another franchise restaurant is set to open next spring in Acworth, Ga., about 25 miles north of Atlanta. The Memphis restaurant, which is being built from the ground up, will be the first to fully incorporate the prototype. The Murfreesboro restaurant, which will occupy the space of a former eatery, will incorporate 90 percent to 95 percent of the elements of the prototype. "I love it," says Mike Cannata, owner of the Murfreesboro franchise restaurant. "It's just a great look for the product we're providing." Cannata also operates a Bar-B-Cutie restaurant in Madison. "The obvious reason anyone does a prototype is they want to improve what they already have." Says Doug Reneger, a partner of Famous Five Dining, a franchisee of Famous Dave's barbecue restaurant. Ed Kellum, owner of the Georgia Bar-B-Cutie restaurant, says the prototype looks like an old-timey barbecue restaurant. His restaurant will be an in-line store in a shopping center, Bar-B-Cutie's first restaurant isn't free standing. Kellum has been a patron of Bar-B-Cutie for the past 20 years. "They've got a great concept, the food's real consistent and they're real good people to work with," he says. To purchase a franchise of Bar-B-Cutie, it takes an initial investment, including the initial franchise fee, of $265,000 to $393,000, excluding the cost of real estate and leasehold improvements.

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