As of December 31, 2024, approximately how many Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants were remaining in the United States?
Chesters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Before the First Chester's began offering CHESTER'S Restaurant franchises on approximately March 1, 2004, our former affiliate, Giles Enterprises, Inc. ("Giles"), whose address was 2750 Gunter Park Drive West, Montgomery, Alabama 36121, licensed existing retail operators to operate quick-service chicken and sides restaurants similar to the Restaurant opportunity offered in our disclosure document in a program called the "CHESTER FRIED® Total Program" (the "Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants"). Giles began licensing operators to operate Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants in 1974; as of December 31, 2024, there were approximately 16 Operators of Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants remaining in the United States. Operators of Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants generally did not receive all the benefits of a CHESTER'S Restaurant franchise and also were not subject to all the same restrictions and obligations. For example, Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants did not pay a franchise or any other initial fee. Also, most Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants continue to operate under the "CHESTER FRIED®" name. We are now the licensor of those Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants. Operators of Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants have the right to convert their units to franchised Restaurants if they satisfy our standards for a CHESTER'S Restaurant franchisee. If they want to convert, they will sign our Agreement. There is no conversion agreement or similar document they must sign. In addition, in certain parts of the United States, we may continue allowing certain experienced foodservice operators, and chain accounts who already operate one or more Chester Fried Licensed
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, as of December 31, 2024, there were approximately 16 Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants remaining in the United States. These Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants originated from a program called the "CHESTER FRIED® Total Program" that was started in 1974 by Giles Enterprises, Inc., a former affiliate of Chesters.
Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants differ from CHESTER'S Restaurant franchises in several ways. Operators of Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants generally do not receive all the benefits of a CHESTER'S Restaurant franchise and are not subject to all the same restrictions and obligations. For instance, they did not pay a franchise or any other initial fee. Also, most Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants continue to operate under the "CHESTER FRIED®" name.
Chesters is now the licensor of these Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants, and these operators have the option to convert their units into franchised Restaurants if they meet Chesters' standards for a franchisee and sign the standard franchise agreement. In certain areas, Chesters may continue to allow experienced foodservice operators and chain accounts already operating Chester Fried Licensed Restaurants to develop and operate additional locations, especially if they prefer not to acquire a full CHESTER'S Restaurant franchise.