Sauce on the Side to add location in Edwardsville, eyes expansion throughout Midwest
Sauce on the Side, a fast-casual concept that specializes in calzones and salads, expands to Illinois with its first restaurant in the state.
The first Sauce on the Side restaurant in Illinois continues the expansion of the fast-casual concept, which specializes in salads and calzones.
Last week, company officials announced that Sauce on the Side would open its new location in Edwardsville later this year.
Tony Withouse is the director of marketing and advertisement for Sauce on the Side. The company currently has 10 restaurants in greater St. Louis, and Indianapolis. It hopes to expand at a rate between two and three restaurants each year, and targets several other metro areas across the Midwest.
Business Journal reported that the new Edwardsville restaurant would be located at Trace on the Parkway. This is a mixed-use residential and commercial area being developed near Governors Parkway in Highland, Illinois, by Plocher Construction along with Kevin Jones of Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb LLC and Chris Byron from Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb LLC.
Withouse stated that construction on the building will begin this summer and the restaurant is scheduled to open in late 2023. Withouse declined to comment on whether the restaurant would be large or how many employees it expects.
Craig and Lori Kalogerou, husband and wife, will own and operate the Edwardsville location. According to Withouse, the two own Bella Milano separately, an Italian eatery at 1063 S. State Route 157, in Edwardsville.
The restaurant will open its 12th location in Edwardsville this summer, after opening a Cottleville in St. Charles County.
Withouse stated that four of Sauce on the Side’s restaurants were company-owned, while the others were franchises. He added that the St. Louis-based franchise looks for franchisees with experience in the restaurant business and who fit well with the company.
According to the website, the franchise fee for Sauce on the Side is $35,000. The company also receives 5% as a royalty fee and 1% as an advertising fee. The franchisee must have a minimum of $200,000 in liquid assets and $600,000.
Withouse stated that franchisees are responsible for the buildout and construction costs. According to the company's website, it estimates that the total investment will range between $414,000-$704,500.
The company reported that its average annual sales increased by 12% from 2021 to 2022 to approximately $1.2 million. The company's website says that the average annual sales for its top 50 percent of restaurants in 2022 will be about $1.6million.
Withouse stated that the company is looking to expand, but it is not in a rush and does not have a timeline.
He said that he would like to travel across the Midwest someday, mentioning cities such as Chicago, Kansas City, Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee.
He stated that the company would like to continue opening up two or three new restaurants each year.
Withouse stated that 'Edwardsville has happened because the community has made it possible'. 'We're so excited.'