Holy Chuck Burgers, a Toronto-based burger restaurant known for its handcrafted burgers and comfort food, has been acquired by MHRA Hospitality, the parent company of Stacked Franchising Ltd., as the brand prepares to open a new location in Barrie at 315 Mapleview Drive West.
The acquisition was announced in a company news release, with MHRA Hospitality acquiring a major stake in the business founded by Johnny Prassoulis. The timing also coincides with Holy Chuck’s upcoming third location, which is listed as coming soon in Barrie, joining existing restaurants on Yonge Street in Toronto and in Woodbridge. While an exact opening date for the Barrie restaurant has not been announced, the companies say expansion plans and franchise opportunities will be revealed in the coming months.
“This isn’t about changing Holy Chuck,” Manish Mehra, President of MHRA, said in the announcement. “It’s about building around what already works. We’ve spent years refining franchise systems, operational playbooks, and growth infrastructure at Stacked. Now we’re applying that same discipline and support to help Holy Chuck reach more Canadians.”
Founded in 2011 by Prassoulis, Holy Chuck built its reputation on fresh, never-frozen beef and handcrafted burgers, helping establish the brand across the Greater Toronto Area. The Barrie restaurant marks the company’s first expansion since the acquisition announcement and represents the next step in its planned growth. Prassoulis and Mehra are expected to work together during the transition, with the companies stating that existing locations, staff, and customers will experience continuity.
According to MHRA Hospitality, Holy Chuck and Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House will continue operating as separate brands while sharing operational infrastructure. The company says it will provide franchise development systems, supply chain and operational support, site selection and real estate expertise, and marketing resources to help grow Holy Chuck throughout Ontario and other Canadian markets. MHRA Hospitality also plans to support both corporate-owned and franchised expansion.
The Barrie restaurant will bring Holy Chuck’s full menu to the city, including signature burgers such as The Holy Chuck, The Big Chuck, and The Big Yianni, as well as fried chicken sandwiches, loaded fries, poutine, milkshakes, dirty sodas, and house-made sauces. This will be an excellent landing space for the brand as it continues expanding beyond the Greater Toronto Area.
“We built Holy Chuck with a simple idea: serve the kind of burger you crave and can’t forget,” Prassoulis said. “Partnering with MHRA Hospitality gives us the operational strength and growth strategy to expand without compromising what makes us different.”
