Teriyaki Madness is expanding in the Charlotte region with plans to open at least three locations over the next few years.
The East Coast franchise expansion is part of the Colorado-based teriyaki shop’s plan to double its size by adding another 100 stores in North America, including opening 50 stores this year.
Teriyaki Madness reported 23% growth year over year in the third quarter last year, according to the company. Marlin McClure said that was part of what appealed to him and his wife Brandi to open three Charlotte-area locations.
With more than 25 years in the restaurant business, McClure said he saw a need for convenience and delivery and takeout, especially since the pandemic. They also wanted a franchise that fit with the needs of families like their own with three children ages 15, 14 and 6.
McClure said they plan to open their first restaurant in the Mooresville area and are aiming to open in July. The other two locations — likely in the north Charlotte area — will open over the next three years.
Teriyaki Madness isn’t new to Charlotte. Franchise owner Ken Fay opened a restaurant five years ago at 1100 Metropolitan Ave., where McClure said he had his first taste. The only other Teriyaki Madness in North Carolina is in Garner, near Raleigh, which opened in 2019.
What to expect
The restaurants offer a small menu with about nine bowls with four proteins — chicken, steak, salmon and tofu with different in-house-made sauces like orange and spicy, and of course, teriyaki. Customers can add rice, noodles, and meet dietary needs like vegetarian, vegan and allergies. Bowl price ranges from $7 to $14.
“It’s a small menu but it’s very customizable, that’s something we embrace,” McClure said. “Food is prepped daily and everything is made to order.”
The menu also includes appetizers like chicken pot stickers, crab ragoon, edamame and chicken eggroll.
“It’s not trying to be an authentic Japanese restaurant, it’s more of an American style bowl with Asian influence,” McClure said.
He expects the fast-casual restaurant to be about 1,7000 square feet and will hire up to 30 employees. Since opening the first restaurant 19 years ago in Las Vegas, Teriyaki Madness has swelled to more than 100 locations in 20 states, according to the company website.
