Can a Chesters franchisee relocate their restaurant without prior written permission?
Chesters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you operate a Restaurant-in-Store franchise, you will operate your Restaurant within your existing business premises. If you will operate a food court/strip mall franchise or other non-traditional franchise (such as at a sports arena or stadium), you will operate your Restaurant from a site you lease in a food court, strip mall, sports arena, or stadium. We have the right to terminate the Agreement if you fail to open the Restaurant within 180 days after the Agreement's effective date. You have the right to operate only from the accepted location and have no right to relocate within your existing business premises or elsewhere without our prior written permission. Whether we will permit relocation depends on the specific circumstances and what we consider to be in your Restaurant's and our system's best interests. We do not expect relocation to occur often because the Restaurant typically is located in your existing business premises.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 29–31)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chesters's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees do not have the right to relocate their restaurant without prior written permission from Chesters. This applies whether the relocation is within the franchisee's existing business premises or to a different location entirely.
Chesters retains the right to decide whether to permit relocation based on the specific circumstances and what it considers to be in the best interests of both the restaurant and the Chesters system as a whole. The FDD states that relocation is not expected to occur often, as the restaurant is typically located within the franchisee's existing business premises.
This requirement for prior written permission to relocate is a fairly standard practice in franchising. It allows Chesters to maintain control over brand consistency and ensure that any new location meets its standards for visibility, accessibility, and market potential. A prospective franchisee should carefully consider this restriction and discuss with Chesters the criteria and process for requesting and obtaining relocation approval, as well as factors that might influence Chesters's decision.