What must a Golden Corral franchisee submit to Golden Corral regarding the architect employed?

According to the 2025 Golden Corral FDD, a franchisee must submit a statement identifying the licensed architect they employ to prepare the site-adapted plans and specifications for the construction or reimaging of the restaurant. This statement is required before commencing any construction, reimaging, or renovation of the restaurant premises.

In practical terms, this means that before a Golden Corral franchisee can begin building or remodeling their restaurant, they need to hire a licensed architect. The franchisee isn't free to choose any architect; Golden Corral needs to know who they've selected. This allows Golden Corral to maintain some oversight over the qualifications and competence of the professionals involved in the construction and design of their franchise locations.

This requirement ensures that the architect is properly licensed and that Golden Corral is informed about who is responsible for the architectural plans. It also gives Golden Corral the opportunity to potentially disapprove of the architect, although the FDD does not explicitly state the criteria for disapproval in this section. Franchisees should clarify with Golden Corral the specific qualifications and criteria they use to evaluate and approve architects to avoid potential delays or issues during the construction or reimaging process.