What are some examples of Corner Bakery Cafe's site selection criteria?
Corner_Bakery_Cafe Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
se. We do not generally own the premises of Corner Bakey Cafes to lease to our franchisees.
You must follow the site selection and site approval processes and standards set forth in the Manual for each site that you develop. You must submit a preliminary site application to us that contains the information we reasonably require for each proposed site which you reasonably believe conforms to our site selection criteria ("Site Application"). Each Site Application must include, among other things, a description of the proposed site, a market feasibility study for the proposed site, a letter of intent (or other written confirmation demonstrating your ability to acquire the proposed site) and a summary of how the site meets our site selection criteria. We may change our site selection criteria periodically, which may include demographic characteristics, traffic count and patterns, parking, character of the neighborhood, competition from other businesses in the area, the proximity to other businesses (including restaurants operated or franchised by us or our affiliates), the nature of other businesses in proximity to the site and other commercial characteristics (including the purchase price, rental obligations and other lease terms for the proposed site) and the size, appearance, other physical characteristics, and a site plan of the premises.
Within 30 days after our receipt of the completed Site Application (which must include all information and materials regarding a proposed site that we reasonably request), we will advise you in writing whether we have approved or rejected the proposed site, which decision we shall make in our sole discretion.
Once the site has been designated as an approved Site and you have completed due diligence as required in the Manual, we will engage, at your expense, the services of an architect or planner to prepare a Design Development Plan. Upon completion of the Design Development Plan, you shall be responsible for engaging an Approved Architect to develop Plans and Specifications for building permit submittal based on the Design Development Plan and an Approved Branding Vendor to develop a Branding Plan for the exterior of the Franchised Cafe. You shall submit to us your final Plans and Specifications and Branding Plan for our approval (which may be granted or withheld at our discretion) before commencing construction of the Franchised Cafe.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 26–37)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Corner Bakery Cafe's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for selecting their own site, but it is subject to Corner Bakery Cafe's approval. Franchisees must adhere to the site selection processes and standards outlined in the manual. As part of the process, franchisees must submit a Site Application that includes a description of the proposed site, a market feasibility study, a letter of intent, and a summary of how the site meets Corner Bakery Cafe's criteria.
The site selection criteria that Corner Bakery Cafe uses may change periodically. These criteria include demographic characteristics, traffic patterns, parking availability, the character of the neighborhood, competition from other businesses, proximity to other businesses (including other Corner Bakery Cafe locations), the nature of nearby businesses, commercial characteristics such as purchase price and lease terms, and the size, appearance, physical characteristics, and site plan of the premises.
Corner Bakery Cafe will advise the franchisee in writing whether the proposed site has been approved or rejected within 30 days of receiving the completed Site Application. The decision to approve or reject a site is made at Corner Bakery Cafe's sole discretion. Corner Bakery Cafe may reject a site if the franchisee does not demonstrate sufficient financial capabilities to properly develop, operate, and maintain the proposed Corner Bakery Cafe. Franchisees must provide financial statements and other information to Corner Bakery Cafe to assess their financial capabilities.