Sobelmans Pub & Grill Plans to Continue Wisconsin-Reign By Bringing Epic Bloody Marys and Burgers to Southeastern Region

Dave Sobelman is busier than ever. He recalls one time when his namesake, Sobelmans Pub & Grill—located in the Milwaukee area—sold 985 burgers in a single day. For this 16-year-old family-owned-and-operated brand, hectic days like that aren’t uncommon—after all, people know Sobelmans serves some of the best burgers and Bloody Mary’s in town.

That’s one of the major reasons why Sobelman began looking into franchising a year ago. As word of his dedication to the highest quality food and drink began to spread, more and more people—clamoring for the one-of-a-kind Sobelman’s experience—began asking him if he ever considered expanding.

“We’re not just a place that serves drinks and food—we’re in the business of making people happy. For me, that’s meant being at my restaurant every day, personally making sure each of our patrons has the kind of experience that puts a smile on their face. But extending that same kind of care across multiple locations would ultimately have stretched me pretty thin,” Sobelman said.

“So when we realized that we were in a place to grow, franchising seemed like the best answer. If I could find partners that are just as passionate about making people happy, Sobelman’s would have a real chance at growing without losing any of our characteristic atmosphere.”

This meant that as his brand would continue to grow, his lofty standards needed to be maintained beyond his watchful eye. That includes a Bloody Mary that’s nationally-recognized, featuring shrimp, polish sausage, cheese, pickled asparagus, celery and, of course, a burger—all sticking out of the drink. By finding the right franchisee to help lead the charge, Sobelman believed his quintessential Milwaukee experience could thrive in other parts of the country.

With three locations currently in operation—two in Milwaukee and one in Mequon, Wisconsin—Sobelman is now looking to take that same renowned quality and innovation further. For potential markets, Sobelman is targeting communities where there is already a deep familiarity with his brand, like Southeastern Wisconsin and Chicago. So far, Sobelman has one franchise agreement in the works, and he expects the new location will open up by late summer 2016 in West Bend, Wisconsin.

“The folks living in Southeastern Wisconsin and Chicago—they’re the ones who really know Sobelman’s and everything we stand for. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for how the Midwest has embraced our brand, and I think we owe it to this region to bring Sobelman’s to them. We have such a rich history there,” Sobelman said.

Sobelman also believes that it’s the Midwest in particular that his brand naturally caters to, giving him all the more reason to target a greater swath of Wisconsin.

“You’re not going to find things like alligator soufflé and herb-crusted salmon fillets here—people come here because of our burgers and over-the-top Bloody Mary’s. More than any other demographic, we seem to really speak to the blue collar crowd—the Green Bay Packer cheering, Harley Davidson-riding crowd,” Sobelman added. “We’re unpretentious—we’re not trying to be the best at everything for everyone. What we are trying to do is make our patrons happy.”

When it comes to franchising, Sobelman intends to take it slow and find the right franchisees in order to maintain the family name and everything it stands for. “We are the only Sobelmans in Milwaukee, and that means something. What I’ll be looking for most is passion. You can’t survive in the business without it.”