After the termination of the Cicis lease or franchise agreement, how long does the franchisor have to de-identify the premises?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisor, its personnel or agents, for a period of up to thirty (30) days after the expiration or sooner termination of the Lease or the Franchise Agreement, may enter the Premises for itself or on behalf of Franchisee to de-identify the Premises as a Restaurant, which may include the removal of signs, decor and materials displaying any marks, designs or logos owned by Franchisor or its affiliates. This right includes the right to remove exterior signs and awnings from the Premises and any Shopping Center pylon or monument sign, interior signs, decor items, and materials displaying any marks, designs, or logos owned by Franchisor and all other items identifying the Premises as a Cicis Restaurant. In addition, Franchisor may make such other modifications (such as repainting) as are reasonably necessary to protect the Cicis system signs, marks, and intellectual property rights.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor has up to 30 days after the expiration or termination of the lease or franchise agreement to de-identify the premises. This process involves removing signs, decor, and materials that display Cicis's trademarks, designs, or logos. This includes exterior signs, awnings, pylon or monument signs, interior signs, and any other items that identify the location as a Cicis restaurant.
Cicis, or its agents, has the right to enter the premises to perform this de-identification. In addition to removing branded items, Cicis may also make modifications such as repainting to further protect its system signs, marks, and intellectual property rights. This ensures that the public will not associate the location with the Cicis brand after the franchise agreement ends.
This requirement is typical in franchising to protect the brand's image and prevent confusion among customers. Franchisees should be aware of this obligation and factor in the time and potential costs associated with de-identification when considering the end of their franchise term. Failing to promptly de-identify the restaurant can result in Cicis taking action to cure the deficiency, with the franchisee responsible for reimbursing all associated costs.