What factors does Black Bear Diner consider when approving a site?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are responsible for selecting the site for each of your Franchised Restaurants. In many instances franchisees have a proposed site prior to signing the Franchise Agreement. If you do not have a site which meets our criteria then you must select a site within the geographic area designated in the Franchise Agreement. Though you are solely responsible for selecting the site, we will provide site evaluation assistance at your request. The assistance consists of overall evaluation of alternative sites and at your request one site visit. Our prior approval of the site is required. The factors we consider in approving a site include general suitability, traffic pattern, ease of ingress and egress, visibility, availability of parking, proximity of similar business and the
general lease terms. We will approve or disapprove a proposed site within 15 days of receiving all requested information. Our approval of one or more sites is not a representation or a promise by us that a Franchised Restaurant at the approved site will achieve a certain sales volume or a certain level of profitability. If no acceptable site is found by you and approved by us within 60 days after you sign the Franchise Agreement, we have the right to terminate the Franchise Agreement immediately on notice without any need for a cure opportunity. Once we have approved your site for the Franchised Restaurant, you have 365 days to actually open and begin operating your Franchised Restaurant. If you fail to open and begin operating your Franchised Restaurant within 365 days after we have approved your site for your Franchised Restaurant, we have the right to terminate the Franchise Agreement immediately on notice without any need for a cure opportunity.
The typical length of time between the signing of the Franchise Agreement and the opening of a Franchised Restaurant is approximately 180 to 365 days. The factors that may affect this time include your ability to obtain zoning approval, build-out of the site, weather conditions and other special circumstances.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 28–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Black Bear Diner Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for selecting their restaurant site, though Black Bear Diner will provide site evaluation assistance upon request. Black Bear Diner's approval of the site is required. The factors that Black Bear Diner considers when approving a site include general suitability, traffic patterns, ease of access, visibility, parking availability, proximity to similar businesses, and general lease terms.
Black Bear Diner will approve or disapprove a proposed site within 15 days of receiving all requested information. However, the document states that Black Bear Diner's approval does not guarantee any specific sales volume or profitability. If a franchisee fails to find an acceptable site approved by Black Bear Diner within 60 days of signing the Franchise Agreement, Black Bear Diner has the right to terminate the agreement immediately.
Once a site is approved, the franchisee has 365 days to open and begin operating their Black Bear Diner restaurant. Failure to do so within this timeframe also gives Black Bear Diner the right to terminate the Franchise Agreement. The typical time between signing the Franchise Agreement and opening a Black Bear Diner restaurant is approximately 180 to 365 days, but this can be affected by zoning approvals, site build-out, weather, and other circumstances.