When did Chesters acquire the CHESTER'S Agreements, Marks, and related assets from First Chester's?
Chesters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
As noted earlier, our predecessor for the CHESTER'S franchise program was the First Chester's. We acquired all existing CHESTER'S Agreements, the Marks, and related assets and obligations from the First Chester's by operation of law effective as of December 31, 2007, as a result of our merger with the First Chester's and another affiliate. We were the surviving entity in the merger. The First Chester's offered CHESTER'S Restaurant franchises from approximately March 1, 2004 through December 2007. There were 44 CHESTER'S Restaurant franchises in operation as of December 31, 2007. The First Chester's never offered franchises in any other line of business.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–12)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chesters's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Chesters acquired the CHESTER'S Agreements, Marks, and related assets and obligations from First Chester's effective as of December 31, 2007. This acquisition occurred through a merger between Chesters, First Chester's, and another affiliate, with Chesters being the surviving entity.
This means that Chesters assumed all existing agreements, trademarks, and associated responsibilities that First Chester's previously held. For a prospective franchisee, this indicates that the current Chesters franchise system has been operating under its current ownership and structure since 2007.
The FDD also notes that First Chester's offered Chesters Restaurant franchises from approximately March 1, 2004, through December 2007, and that there were 44 Chesters Restaurant franchises in operation as of December 31, 2007. This historical context provides insight into the evolution of the Chesters franchise system and the number of units in operation at the time of the acquisition.