How the Reeve Family Became Melting Pot Franchise Owners

Melting Pot is a place where Daina and Jonathan celebrated countless family milestones. So, when they heard the New Haven location was closing, they acted.

“For every birthday, Melting Pot was my kids’ number one choice, so it became a big staple for us,” Daina said. “When Jonathan and I started dating, it was a natural progression to introduce him to our family traditions, and we all started going together.”

What started as an effort to keep a meaningful tradition alive quickly became a chance to use their corporate skills to build something of their own. Exploring Melting Pot franchise ownership allowed them to preserve an experience they loved while creating a business they could grow together.

Jonathan connected with the restaurant immediately. Having grown up in Europe with a Christmas Eve fondue tradition, the experience felt familiar and special. “What’s special about Melting Pot is that it’s slow and steady — an event,” he said. “You can really participate in an intimate moment together.”

So when their go-to location announced its closure, the couple wasn’t ready to let it go. Daina searched “Melting Pot franchise,” reached out, and received a response within fifteen minutes. She told Jonathan soon after. “At first, he thought I was crazy, but after a week, he was completely on board,” she said. “You would even think it was his idea!”

More than anything, the Reeves saw franchising as a way to create something meaningful for their family, including Jonathan’s son, Josh, who is studying culinary and restaurant management at Johnson & Wales.

“With the combination of our executive corporate skills and his training in culinary arts, we think the three of us can do a really good job,” Jonathan said. Their business plan featured all three family members from day one.

Daina says that family has always been at the heart of their vision for the restaurant. “We really want this to be a family-and-friend initiative,” she said. “There are a lot of trusted employees and people that become part of your Melting Pot family.”

Before franchising, both Daina and Jonathan spent their careers in financial information services. Daina worked her way from data entry to product management at a Fortune 500 company and now works as a business management consultant. Jonathan has led product teams for more than 25 years. The franchise model made starting a business seem less daunting.

“Franchising seemed like a really nice way to take a brand and process that’s been proven and execute on that,” Daina said.

For Jonathan, the model clicked immediately because of his early experience working in a franchise during high school. “A lot of the details about how to run a business — where to order from, for example — is decided,” he said. “You’re not doing everything from scratch.”

The Reeves hope to eventually expand their business, sometimes joking that “every kid has [a store].” Even if playful, the idea reflects their long-term goal: building something lasting that their family can grow into.

“This is our retirement strategy,” Daina said. “Together, this is something that we can do into retirement to keep ourselves active and motivated.”

Melting Pot has long been part of the Reeves’ life, from their kids’ celebrations to the moments that brought their blended family closer. Keeping the restaurant in the community feels less like a business move and more like continuing something meaningful to their family.

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