Must a Black Bear Diner franchisee hire an architect acceptable to Black Bear Diner to prepare plans for the restaurant?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are responsible for developing the Franchised Restaurant in compliance with our system and ensuring that all plans and specifications comply with our requirements, applicable laws, and lease requirements. We will give you standard specifications and layouts for a Black Bear Diner restaurant. You must hire an architect acceptable to us to prepare your plans and make any necessary changes to our standard specifications and layout. Our acceptance of your architect will not in any way be our endorsement of your architect or render us liable for your adherence to any federal, state or local codes. You must give us, and we have the right to review and approve all plans and specifications before you begin constructing the Restaurant. You or your architect must certify to us that the architectural renderings, plans, and specifications comply with all applicable federal, state and local codes including the Americans with Disabilities Act. We will perform a final inspection and provide you with a written sign-off if the build-out meets our approval. We must sign off on the final build out prior to your beginning operation of the Franchised Restaurant.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 22–26)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Black Bear Diner's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to hire an architect that is acceptable to Black Bear Diner to prepare the restaurant's plans. The franchisee is responsible for ensuring the restaurant's development complies with Black Bear Diner's system standards, all applicable laws, and lease requirements. Black Bear Diner will provide standard specifications and layouts for the restaurant. The chosen architect must make any necessary changes to these standard specifications and layouts. However, Black Bear Diner's acceptance of the architect does not constitute an endorsement or liability for adherence to any federal, state, or local codes.
Before construction begins, the franchisee must submit all plans and specifications to Black Bear Diner for review and approval. The franchisee or their architect must certify that the architectural renderings, plans, and specifications comply with all applicable federal, state, and local codes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. Black Bear Diner will conduct a final inspection and provide a written sign-off if the build-out meets their approval. The franchisee cannot begin operating the restaurant until Black Bear Diner signs off on the final build-out.
This requirement ensures that all Black Bear Diner restaurants maintain a consistent brand image and meet all necessary regulatory standards. While franchisees have the freedom to choose their architect, the architect must be approved by Black Bear Diner, giving the franchisor control over the design and construction process. This process helps to protect the brand's reputation and ensure that all locations are built to a certain standard.