Say 'grilled cheese!'

Tom + Chee, a Cincinnati-based startup chain of fast-casual grilled cheese sandwich and soup eateries, is preparing to open its second Florida location in East County.

Tom + Chee co-founder Corey Ward says a location will open at 5231 University Parkway, Sarasota by the end of the second quarter.

Tom + Chee is preparing to open the eatery’s first Florida location in Orlando in April, followed by a string of additional Florida locations planned for north, central and southwest Florida.

The University Parkway location will occupy 2,700 square feet near Fresh Market.

David and Cynthia Williams of Tampa will operate the location. They signed an agreement in 2014 to expand the chain to Tampa and the Sarasota-Bradenton market, according to Tom + Chee’s marketing manager, Marty Boyer. The Williamses, who did not immediately return calls for comment, have about 30 years’ experience in the fast-food industry, including 20 years with Checkers and Rally’s.
Ward and the firm’s co-founder,

Trew Quackenbush, joined only by their wives, started the business by serving quirky soups and grilled cheese sandwiches from a food tent in Cincinnati in 2009. They worked out a deal with an ice rink to serve warm sandwiches and tomato soups to ice skaters.

“We couldn’t afford a restaurant or even a food truck. We used our last $2,400 to buy a tent and a grill,” Ward said. “Three-hundred and sixty-three days later, we opened our second location, which became our first brick and mortar restaurant.”

Quackenbush and Corey appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in May 2013, hoping to secure investment dollars to grow their business and revamp the Cincinnati stores they originally opened on a shoestring budget. Their appearance on the show would also bring more than 9,000 inquiries from people interested in opening Tom+Chee franchises.

Today, the chain has 20 eateries and is under contract for additional restaurants in 17 states.
Each store employs 20 to 25 workers.

Ward said Floridians can expect “to experience awesome grilled cheese sandwiches.”

“We take a lot of care with our ingredients,” he said. “Everything is cooked in house. We don’t have freezers, fryers or microwaves.”

The restaurants make a variety of soups fresh daily, including three varieties of tomato soup.

Ward said his favorite thing on the menu is the grilled cheese doughnut that has been named a favorite on food shows.

The chain is currently looking for franchisees and development partners for Orlando and, eventually, markets south of Tampa. The firm wants franchisees with some previous restaurant franchise experience.
Ward credits the chain’s simple and inexpensive menu for its surge in popularity. Most items are in the $5 range, and nothing is more than $6.50.

“We are serving you classic comfort food at an affordable price,” Ward said. “It’s not rocket science.”