Does Gold Star operate any Tom and Chee Restaurants?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
io 45226.
Gold Star is the parent company of TCWW, LLC ("TCWW"), an Ohio limited liability company. TCWW is a franchisor which offers franchises for the operation of quick service restaurants selling grilled cheese sandwiches, other sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, other menu items, and related products and services to the public under the name Tom and Chee. TCWW's principal office address is 650 Lunken Park Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226. Gold Star does not operate any Tom and Chee Restaurants.
The Franchisor's Business.
Gold Star owns, operates and manages chili restaurants known as GOLD STAR and GOLD STAR CHILI Restaurants (each a "Restaurant"), sells Restaurant franchises (each a "Franchise") to others (each a "Franchisee"), and operates Gold Star's production and warehouse facility, the
sole purpose of which is to produce proprietary food and other products which Gold Star then sells to our third-party distributor.
Gold Star, through its production and warehouse facility, sells its proprietary food and other products to its third-party distributor, who in turn sells these products and others to Franchisees.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 7–10)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Gold Star's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Gold Star does not operate any Tom and Chee Restaurants. However, Gold Star is the parent company of TCWW, LLC, which franchises Tom and Chee restaurants. TCWW offers franchises for quick-service restaurants that sell grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts under the name Tom and Chee.
TCWW began franchising Tom and Chee restaurants on September 19, 2017, after purchasing the franchising assets of Tom and Chee Worldwide, LLC. Although TCWW has not sold any new Tom and Chee franchises since purchasing the system, there are currently 2 active franchised and 4 company-owned Tom and Chee locations operating in the United States. TCWW has tested dual-brand opportunities within existing Gold Star units, which means that some Gold Star locations may incorporate the Tom and Chee brand.
For a prospective Gold Star franchisee, this means that while Gold Star itself focuses on chili restaurants, its parent company is involved in the grilled cheese restaurant business. The franchisee should be aware that Gold Star has tested dual-brand opportunities within existing Gold Star units. A potential franchisee may want to inquire about the possibility of incorporating a Tom and Chee concept into their Gold Star franchise.