Does Chesters have the right to review and approve the restaurant development plans?
Chesters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are responsible for developing the Restaurant in compliance with the Chester's System and ensuring that all plans and specifications comply with our requirements, applicable laws, and lease requirements.
You must provide, and we have the right to review and approve, all plans and specifications before you begin developing the Restaurant.
You must buy or lease all required fixtures, furniture, equipment, and signs for the Restaurant and an opening inventory of required and authorized products, materials, and supplies.
You may not open the Restaurant for business without our prior written approval, which approval is subject to your Restaurant's satisfactory completion of our restaurant readiness review assessment.
If we determine in our sole judgment that we must undertake more than one restaurant readiness review for your Restaurant, then we may, at our option, charge you for the costs and expenses that we incur in conducting such restaurant readiness review.
Our rights and remedies under the immediately-preceding sentence are in addition to, and do not limit, our other rights and remedies under this Agreement and applicable law.
You also may not open the Restaurant for business until all construction requirements are satisfied.
However, you must open the Restaurant for business within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Effective Date.
You acknowledge that no approvals, consents, waivers, conditions, or the like by us or our agents or brokers (whether under this Section or otherwise) warrant the success of the Restaurant or the appropriateness or suitability of the particular items or matters so approved.
Source: Item 23 — **RECEIPTS (FDD pages 48–197)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chesters's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Chesters retains the right to review and approve all restaurant development plans and specifications before construction begins. This means a prospective franchisee must submit their development plans to Chesters for approval, ensuring they comply with the Chesters System, applicable laws, and lease requirements.
This requirement ensures that each Chesters restaurant adheres to the brand's standards and specifications. The franchisee is responsible for developing the restaurant according to Chesters's requirements. This includes buying or leasing all required fixtures, furniture, equipment, and signs, as well as securing an opening inventory of required and authorized products.
Furthermore, the franchisee cannot open the restaurant for business without Chesters's prior written approval, which is contingent upon a satisfactory restaurant readiness review assessment. If Chesters needs to conduct more than one readiness review, the franchisee may be charged for the associated costs. The franchisee must open the restaurant within 180 days of the Effective Date.
Chesters also does not warrant the success of the restaurant or the suitability of any approved items. This places the onus on the franchisee to ensure the restaurant's viability, even with Chesters's required approvals and standards.