---
title: "Local Milwaukee Restaurant Signs First Franchise Deal"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/bc238d51-be45-433a-a8f1-f134f69c3538
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/local-milwaukee-restaurant-signs-first-franchise-deal-8508
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit","Emerging brands"]
published: 2016-12-12T23:18:10.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:12:03.252Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/53c6eb685a9116a51c8760680160ea735791.jpg
---

# Local Milwaukee Restaurant Signs First Franchise Deal

**TL;DR:** Sobelman's Pub-n-Grill, a Milwaukee-based restaurant, has signed its first franchise deal to expand its business without compromising its local feel. The restaurant has signed two franchisees, Al and Nancy Hochmuth and Jimmy Dakolis and Alison Ippolite, to open locations in Richfield and Waukesha.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2016-12-12. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/local-milwaukee-restaurant-signs-first-franchise-deal-8508).*

## Story

Franchising allows businesses to grow without compromising their local feel and qualities. To forget that franchisees are small business owners, is to forget what franchising really is: individuals taking control of their careers with proven business models and a potential for large returns.

Milwaukee’s locally owned Sobelman’s Pub-n-Grill is choosing to leverage the franchise industry to expand their restaurant in a sustainable way without losing quality and its characteristic charm. The iconic burger restaurant known for its Bloody Marys, owned by Dave Sobelman, is planning to sign franchise deals throughout the Milwaukee metropolitan area in 2017 and beyond.

“Dave wants to continue expanding, but he already owns three locations that he’s managing,” says Rick Robinson, President of Services4Franchising, who is consulting Sobelman as he franchises the restaurant. “He’s been getting inquiries from prospective franchisees for years.”

After considering the possibility of franchising for a few years, the restaurant finally signed its first franchisees, Al and Nancy Hochmuth, to open a location in downtown Richfield. And then in September, Sobelman’s signed their second franchisees, Jimmy Dakolis and Alison Ippolite, who are opening a location in Waukesha in early 2017. Dakolis and Ippolite both have histories working in the bar industry and are using Sobelman’s fun brand to break into dining.

“We want to get these first two up and running before we look at expanding,” says Robinson. “Besides other Wisconsin cities we’re now looking into the possibility of opening locations in northern Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota.”

The Hochmuths are planning to open the first franchise location in a building that is the former home of Italian restaurant Amici’s. Located at 1872 State Highway 175, Richfield, the facility is a historic one with lots of character. And as fate would have it, actually resembles the original Sobelman’s location on St. Paul Avenue, according to Sobelman. Al hopes to have his Richfield location open sometime in January.

The couple first began considering opening a Sobelman’s location while they were dining at the restaurant’s Mequon location. Long-time customers, they were eating dinner when they saw a sign that said the restaurant would be franchising. Immediately, Al knew it was something he wanted to do.

Al, who has spent his career working for companies that install and maintain point of sale systems in restaurants, has actually been toying with the idea of opening a franchise for decades. His wife, Nancy, is president of Vikatuke Free Inc., which is based in Brookfield. While Al will put all his efforts into opening their new business, Nancy will continue with her current role.

Sobelman, who currently operates two locations in Milwaukee and one in Mequon with his wife Melanie, is excited about the opportunities franchising brings to his business.

“Sobelman’s isn’t a cookie cutter franchise,” says Robinson. “Every location is unique and provides a different experience, which our customers love!”

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- franchise deal (topic)
- Milwaukee (location)
- restaurant franchising (topic)
- small business owners (topic)
- Brookfield (location)
- local expansion (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/local-milwaukee-restaurant-signs-first-franchise-deal-8508). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/bc238d51-be45-433a-a8f1-f134f69c3538).