Dive Brief:
- Corner Bakery has completed seven renovations, with one in Pennsylvania and the rest in California, the company said in a Monday press release.
- The renovations entail updated interiors and exteriors, and new seating, flooring, paint, decor, beverage counters, awnings and patio furniture, the company said.
- Since June 2023, Corner Bakery has reinvested $6.2 million into the business via self-funded improvements. During the first half of this year, the chain expects to spend another $500,000 to remodel additional locations in Illinois and Pennsylvania, with the aim of updating all of its nearly 100 locations by 2027.
Dive Insight:
The recent investments are part of a strategy to revitalize the brand, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and emerged with SCCP Restaurant Investors as its new owner in 2023. The chain began various initiatives to rebuild sales momentum and grew average unit volumes by $200,000 during the last half of 2023. Last year, the brand’s average unit volumes were around $2 million.
Key to those efforts was improving Corner Bakery’s company culture through people-first initiatives like improved training, prioritization of robust career opportunities, recognition programs and employee incentives. The chain also stacked its C-suite with various executives, including promoting Chief Operating Officer Erin Hasselgren to president.
The company has expanded self-order kiosks, “furthering the company’s investment in delivering better guest experience through technology,” Corner Bakery said.
In addition to remodels and technology, the chain has been adding new menu items, like the Green Chili Chicken Panini, and opening corporate-owned locations.
The company opened locations in Chicago and Washington, D.C., last year and will reopen its Accenture Tower location in Chicago on March 24. This is one of the busiest train stations in Chicago, the company said. These three locations total an investment of over $1 million from the brand. The re-opening in Chicago will follow a new location in Irvine, California, in May.
Corner Bakery is also seeing growth with franchising. A new franchised location opened in El Paso, Texas, in February under owner Bakery Ventures, which has six Corner Bakery locations overall and five in El Paso.
