In Sep 2021, the rapidly expanding barbecue and hot dog brand, Crave Hot Dogs and BBQ, announced that it had inked a franchise deal in Scottsdale. According to franchisee Kareem Epting, however, the location is yet to materialize following a series of leasing agreements that never came to fruition, limited availability of commercial space in the city, and ongoing construction and negotiations at the strip mall they’re currently working with.
“The hardest part about opening this franchise is that we’ve found a bunch of places that we like, but every time we put an offer in somebody already has it, or there’s no new spots around,” Epting tells What Now Phoenix, adding, “Hopefully it’ll be coming soon because we’re excited about bringing Crave to the Phoenix market.”
Founded just four years ago by Samantha and Sal Rincione, Crave has rapidly expanded, with locations open or coming soon in 18 states including Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, and Colorado, as well as a fleet of food trucks that operate in Georgia, California, North Carolina, and Illinois. Ultimately, expansion plans call for 100 units over the next three to five years with “no less than 20 trucks on the road.”
The restaurant describes itself as having “fun plays on classic BBQ dishes such as BBQ tacos, or Mac N Brisket sandwiches.” Likewise, Crave locations typically have “anywhere from 18-32 taps which include local craft beers and wine and sometimes mixed drinks too.”
