“We couldn’t be more excited,” said Frisch’s CEO Jason Vaughn. “When you think about Carew Tower as a historic building. We have a heritage brand like Frisch’s. The city is resurging, family orientated. We felt like, what a great fit for Frisch’s to be back downtown to serve those guests.”
Vaughn also told Journal-News media partner WCPO that as many as 12 stores will be remodeled this year, increasing to 18 next year. New-store construction will grow from two to four next year to as many as eight in 2019. Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Memphis and Nashville are among the cities targeted for future growth.
The 4,000-square-foot downtown store is a prototype that could lead to other downtown locations, Vaughn said. It will test catering options and new technologies, like the Ziosk tablet that lets customers pay at the table and ordering apps for takeout and catering options.
Frisch’s now employs about 6,800 people at 121 stores, roughly the same as two years ago.