What is the Crave franchisee's obligation regarding the construction of the Crave Restaurant at the approved site?
Crave Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must assume all costs, liabilities, expenses, and responsibility for locating, obtaining, and developing a site for the Restaurant and for constructing and equipping the Restaurant at the approved site.
Your Restaurant must be constructed according to plans that we have approved. We will provide you with sample plans and/or our specifications for a Crave Restaurant. We have the right to designate or approve the architect/designer that you use, and you must use our designated contractor for the build-out of your Restaurant. You must arrange for construction plans to be created that incorporate our requirements into the size and shape of the approved site for your Restaurant. You may not use the plans or begin building out your Restaurant until we have approved the construction plans, and any changes to the construction plans must also be approved by us before the change may be implemented. Our review is not meant to assess compliance with any applicable laws, regulations or building codes, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Our review is only to verify that the construction plans accurately present our trade dress, the Marks and meet our specifications. We have the right to inspect your Restaurant while it is being constructed. You may not open your Restaurant for business without our approval.
We estimate that the time from the signing of the Franchise Agreement to the opening of the Restaurant will be approximately four to eight months. Your total timeframe may be shorter or longer depending on the time necessary to obtain an approved site, to obtain financing, to obtain the permits and licenses for the construction and operation of the Restaurant, to complete construction or remodeling as it may be affected by weather conditions, shortages, delivery schedules and other similar factors, to complete the interior and exterior of the Restaurant, including decorating, purchasing and installing fixtures, equipment and signs, and to complete preparation for operating the Restaurant, including purchasing inventory and supplies. You must open the Restaurant and begin business within 12 months after you sign the Franchise Agreement. If you are not able to open your Restaurant within this period, we have the right to terminate your Franchise Agreement or we may extend the period of time for you to open.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 32–42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crave's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for all costs associated with constructing and equipping the restaurant at the approved site. The franchisee must use Crave's standard specifications and layouts for building and furnishing the Restaurant. The franchisee is responsible for creating site plans and build-out plans at their own expense. Crave has the right to designate or approve the architect/designer that the franchisee uses, and the franchisee must use Crave's designated contractor for the build-out of the Restaurant.
The franchisee must arrange for construction plans that incorporate Crave's requirements into the size and shape of the approved site. The franchisee may not use the plans or begin building out the Restaurant until Crave has approved the construction plans, and any changes to the construction plans must also be approved by Crave before the change may be implemented. Crave's review of the construction plans is to verify that the plans accurately present Crave's trade dress, the Marks and meet their specifications.
Crave has the right to inspect the Restaurant while it is being constructed. The franchisee may not open the Restaurant for business without Crave's approval. The estimated time from signing the Franchise Agreement to opening the Restaurant is approximately four to eight months, but this timeframe depends on various factors such as obtaining an approved site, financing, permits, and construction or remodeling, which may be affected by weather conditions, shortages, and delivery schedules. The franchisee must open the Restaurant and begin business within 12 months after signing the Franchise Agreement, or Crave has the right to terminate the Franchise Agreement or extend the opening period.