A Utah-based Five Guys franchisee has big plans for the brand in Orlando.
Darven Erickson, CEO of North Star Dining USA Inc., a Utah-based company that acquires and operates Five Guys Franchises throughout North America, is bullish on Central Florida.
According to WFTV, in partnership with the Orlando Business Journal, his company purchased 17 Orlando-area Five Guys restaurants throughout the Orlando market, at a cost of up to $12 million. National Franchise Sales (NFS) facilitated the transaction, purchasing the burger restaurants from Bengel’s Burgers, LLC, a longtime Five Guys operator. In an Instagram post, NFS announced it has, “guided both parties through a smooth and timely closing”.
North Star Dining USA is further investing in Central Florida with plans to invest up to $5.7 million into eight more Five Guys locations. No locations or timelines have been announced regarding the new locations.
North Star Dining USA is in a growth pattern, with the U.S. Sun reporting the company acquired all 18 Five Guys locations in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market in July 2024.
Five Guys opened its first location in 1986 as a small takeout burger joint in Arlington, Virginia. Today, there are more than 1,000 locations globally. The restaurant has a loyal following for its customer service and value — it offers free fresh peanuts, extra fries are thrown into each sack, and guests are greeted with a friendly hello.
