Melting Pot Remodel Upgrades a ‘70s Experience to a Modern Night Out

After nearly five decades of operations, the Melting Pot brand was well-established and beloved by guests nationwide. However, with restaurants varying in age from a few years to a few decades, the brand’s visual identity needed a refresh. To keep the concept relevant, the leadership team came up with a remodel plan that would modernize the brand’s image and bring all restaurants to a more consistent visual standard.

“If you have a brand that focuses on a culinary treat that started in the ’60s and ’70s, you don't want it to feel like you’re still in the ’60s and ’70s,” Collin Benyo, franchise growth strategist, told Nation’s Restaurant News.

The system is currently progressing through a plan to remodel all 93 locations.

“It is a departure from what we originally were back in 1975 which was a little bit more closed off, a little bit darker, more intimate,” said Benyo. “That's not really ringing true with [consumers] any longer.”

The new design, referred to internally as Melting Pot Evolution, incorporates a more open floor plan, lighter color schemes and additional lights and brightness. The bar area has also been reimagined to celebrate Melting Pot’s craft cocktails and create a more welcoming space for guests who want to spend their whole night there rather than stopping by for a quick drink while waiting for a table.

As the brand works toward opening another 15 restaurants by 2025, the design refresh is only increasing guests’ and franchisees’ love for the brand.

“We connect with people better,” added Benyo. “We are doing something different for experiential dining. People come in, slow down and enjoy the company.”