FRANCHISING IN CALGARY
FranchisingAuthor :
John Desbiens 
Franchises are ever-present throughout the city of Calgary and cover various sectors of activity: retail, restaurant industry, service sector, automotive industry and much more. These franchises offer a wide variety of products and services that can fulfill almost all consumers’ needs.
Many successful franchise systems have originated from Calgary, amongst them:
SMITTY’S, is a full service restaurant operating 115 restaurants in Canada with a family menu of all day breakfasts and a senior menu with smaller plates. SMITTY’S has 6 units in Calgary.
JOEY’S ONLY, is a seafood restaurant that also started in Calgary and now has 100 restaurants in North America, including 8 in Calgary.
EDO JAPAN, is a hot Japanese Teppan style stir fry concept that started in Calgary and now operates more than 80 locations in America, including 10 in Calgary.
MOXIES GRILL AND BAR is another successful chain of restaurants based in Calgary, operating 55 locations, including 8 locations in Calgary. MOXIES GRILL AND BAR is a premium casual restaurant concept, currently in 5 provinces and expanding.
HUMPTY’S is another Calgary-based franchisor with 49 mid scale service family restaurants and 8 in Calgary.
RICKY’S ALL DAY GRILL, is based in B.C. and operates 12 restaurants in the Calgary area.
THE KEG STEAK HOUSE, a franchisor from Ottawa operates 6 restaurants in Calgary and many others concepts that appear to be doing very well in Calgary.
Calgary is a fertile ground for franchising with an impressive number of franchisors well represented in this area.
Some of the new franchisors in the area include:
CHACHI’S Deli, is a healthy concept from B.C., with three units.
WOK BOX is based in Edmonton and offers a very unique concept of fresh Asian kitchen. They have recently opened three units in the area.
CORA BREAKFAST & LUNCH, is based in Quebec with nearly 100 restaurants in operation, with two restaurants recently opened in the Calgary area and more to come.
SOME FRANCHISES IN CALGARY
GOLD’S GYM
GOLD’S GYM is a concept that began in 1965, in Venice, California. In 1977 GOLD’S GYM attracted international attention when it was featured in the movie “Pumping Iron”. This was the movie that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno in their respective careers.
From that first gym in Venice, GOLD’S GYM has become the largest chain in the world with over 650 facilities in 35 countries including Canada. GOLD’S GYM has more than 3 million members worldwide and continues to expand.
The head office of the master franchisee for Canada is located in Calgary, and we had the pleasure of visiting their most recent gym in Calgary’s Mckenzie Towne.
The 32,000 square feet facility includes the most recent fitness equipment, a day care facility, a food supplement store, a tanning facility, a juice bar, massage therapy, yoga, aesthetics care, a swimming pool, and a complete gym with a capacity for 10,000 members.
It is a beautiful and well thought out facility where no efforts are spared to attract and maintain membership.
GOLD’S GYM is currently expanding into Quebec with two gyms in Brossard and Rosemere.
Many successful franchise systems have originated from Calgary, amongst them:
SMITTY’S, is a full service restaurant operating 115 restaurants in Canada with a family menu of all day breakfasts and a senior menu with smaller plates. SMITTY’S has 6 units in Calgary.
JOEY’S ONLY, is a seafood restaurant that also started in Calgary and now has 100 restaurants in North America, including 8 in Calgary.
EDO JAPAN, is a hot Japanese Teppan style stir fry concept that started in Calgary and now operates more than 80 locations in America, including 10 in Calgary.
MOXIES GRILL AND BAR is another successful chain of restaurants based in Calgary, operating 55 locations, including 8 locations in Calgary. MOXIES GRILL AND BAR is a premium casual restaurant concept, currently in 5 provinces and expanding.
HUMPTY’S is another Calgary-based franchisor with 49 mid scale service family restaurants and 8 in Calgary.
RICKY’S ALL DAY GRILL, is based in B.C. and operates 12 restaurants in the Calgary area.
THE KEG STEAK HOUSE, a franchisor from Ottawa operates 6 restaurants in Calgary and many others concepts that appear to be doing very well in Calgary.
Calgary is a fertile ground for franchising with an impressive number of franchisors well represented in this area.
Some of the new franchisors in the area include:
CHACHI’S Deli, is a healthy concept from B.C., with three units.
WOK BOX is based in Edmonton and offers a very unique concept of fresh Asian kitchen. They have recently opened three units in the area.
CORA BREAKFAST & LUNCH, is based in Quebec with nearly 100 restaurants in operation, with two restaurants recently opened in the Calgary area and more to come.
SOME FRANCHISES IN CALGARY
GOLD’S GYM
GOLD’S GYM is a concept that began in 1965, in Venice, California. In 1977 GOLD’S GYM attracted international attention when it was featured in the movie “Pumping Iron”. This was the movie that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno in their respective careers.
From that first gym in Venice, GOLD’S GYM has become the largest chain in the world with over 650 facilities in 35 countries including Canada. GOLD’S GYM has more than 3 million members worldwide and continues to expand.
The head office of the master franchisee for Canada is located in Calgary, and we had the pleasure of visiting their most recent gym in Calgary’s Mckenzie Towne.
The 32,000 square feet facility includes the most recent fitness equipment, a day care facility, a food supplement store, a tanning facility, a juice bar, massage therapy, yoga, aesthetics care, a swimming pool, and a complete gym with a capacity for 10,000 members.
It is a beautiful and well thought out facility where no efforts are spared to attract and maintain membership.
GOLD’S GYM is currently expanding into Quebec with two gyms in Brossard and Rosemere.