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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy an Old Chicago Franchise

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is a casual dining restaurant and taproom brand founded in 1976 in Boulder, Colorado. The concept pairs handcrafted Chicago-style pizza and broad taproom fare with an extensive craft beer program, serving guests across lunch, dinner, happy hour and late-night dayparts in a relaxed, neighbourhood-bar setting.

The brand runs a mix of company-owned and franchised full-service restaurants, with a footprint of more than 50 locations across roughly 21 states concentrated in the Midwest, Mountain and Plains regions. Franchises are offered as single-unit and multi-unit area development agreements through Old Chicago Franchising LLC. Acquired by SPB Hospitality out of CraftWorks Holdings’ 2020 bankruptcy, the brand was sold to a new ownership group in 2025.

Old Chicago positions itself around its beer credentials, offering a large rotating line-up of local, regional, domestic and imported brews alongside proprietary beers developed with craft breweries. Its World Beer Tour loyalty programme, digital beer boards and updated restaurant prototype reinforce a pizza-and-craft-beer identity that sets it apart within casual dining.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Old Chicago resales available
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Why buy an Old Chicago Franchise?

Old Chicago carries nearly five decades of brand history and a recognisable identity built on craft beer and handcrafted pizza, giving it name recognition that an independent restaurant would take years to establish. The taproom concept occupies a distinctive niche in casual dining, combining food with a beer-led experience that supports repeat visits and a loyal following through the World Beer Tour programme.

To buy an Old Chicago franchise is to step into a full-service model backed by established operating systems, supplier relationships and proprietary beer partnerships with breweries such as Odell, Boulevard, Summit and Left Hand. For operators with restaurant experience, the brand offers single and multi-unit development and an updated prototype designed to improve kitchen efficiency and the guest experience.

Old Chicago Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      $40,000

    • Initial Investment

      $2,067,500 - $4,441,000

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      4%

  • Training & Support

    • 312 hours on the job training

    • 6 hours classroom training

    • Ongoing support

    • Marketing support

Old Chicago – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming franchisees receive structured initial training reported at around 312 hours of on-the-job training plus 6 hours of classroom instruction, covering four core areas: management, back of house, front of house and tavern operations, including beer-knowledge certification for managers, bartenders and servers. Ongoing support comes through designated franchise business consultants, with operations and marketing assistance and brand systems such as digital beer boards and the OC Rewards loyalty platform. Resale buyers should confirm what transfer training and system access carry over to incoming ownership after the 2025 sale.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Old Chicago suits experienced, hands-on restaurant operators rather than first-time owners. The full-service taproom model calls for someone comfortable managing sizeable front-of-house, kitchen and bar teams, running a complex food and beverage program, and delivering a consistent guest experience across busy dayparts. A genuine interest in craft beer helps, as the beer program is central to the brand. The single and multi-unit development structure also fits area developers able to coordinate several locations while upholding brand standards.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    With roots dating to 1976, Old Chicago has built recognition over nearly five decades as one of casual dining's craft-beer pioneers, known for its handcrafted pizzas and taproom expertise. The brand's World Beer Tour loyalty programme and collaborations with respected breweries have helped sustain a dedicated following and reinforce its standing as a local beer authority. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific restaurant's local reviews, community standing and repeat-customer base, which together drive a unit's day-to-day performance.

  4. Industry / Market

    Old Chicago operates in the US casual dining and craft beer categories. American craft beer generated roughly $28.9 billion in retail sales in 2023, about a quarter of the total US beer market by value, according to the Brewers Association, reflecting steady demand for local and specialty brews. Casual dining stays competitive and sensitive to discretionary spending, but beer-led, experience-driven concepts can build loyal repeat traffic. For resale buyers, local demand, trade-area population and the strength of a unit's beverage program are key factors shaping its performance.

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