Are Crave Express Restaurants and Food Trucks permitted to offer beer and wine?
Crave Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We offer franchises for the right to establish and operate a quick serve "Crave" restaurant or food truck offering hot dogs, other cased meats, barbeque items, beverages, appetizers, and side dishes ("Restaurant", "Express Restaurant", "Food Truck" or "Franchised Business"). Unless otherwise specified, Express Restaurant will also be referred to as Restaurant. If you choose to, and if permitted by your local ordinances, you may also offer beer and wine from your Restaurant. Express Restaurants and Food Trucks will not offer beer and wine. Restaurant outlets of a certain size (approximately 1,800 to 3,500 square feet) may offer axe throwing lanes. The Franchised Businesses operate under the trade name and mark "Crave" and the additional principal service marks, trademarks, trade names, logos, emblems, and indicia of origin identified in Item 13. These principal marks and all other marks which may be designated by us in the future in writing for use with the System (defined below) are referred to in this Disclosure Document as the "Marks" or "Proprietary Marks".
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 6–9)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crave's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Express Restaurants and Food Trucks are not permitted to offer beer and wine. However, standard Crave Restaurant outlets may offer beer and wine if local ordinances permit. These standard restaurants typically range from 1,800 to 3,500 square feet and may also offer axe throwing lanes if they meet a minimum size requirement of 3,000 square feet.
This distinction is important for prospective franchisees to consider when deciding on the type of Crave franchise they want to pursue. The inability to sell beer and wine at Express Restaurants and Food Trucks could impact revenue potential, depending on the location and customer base. Franchisees should carefully evaluate the local market and demand for alcoholic beverages before making a final decision.
It is also important to note that even for standard Crave Restaurants, the ability to offer beer and wine is contingent upon local ordinances. Franchisees must investigate and comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the sale of alcohol. Additionally, the FDD mentions that certain managers and employees must complete alcohol awareness or TIPS training, indicating that Crave places importance on responsible alcohol service where it is permitted.