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Tom & Chee Announces First Pittsburgh Restaurant

Fast-Casual Brand Made Famous on “Shark Tank” To Open First Pittsburgh Location in 2020

Pittsburgh – January 23, 2020 – Cincinnati-based restaurant brand Tom & Chee, famous for its melts, soups, and grilled cheese donuts, today announced its plans to open the first Pittsburgh location in October 2020.

“We are thrilled to join the Tom & Chee family and work with a franchise we believe in,” said Pittsburgh franchisee Byron Sharp. “There’s nothing better than watching families have a good time together, and serving them delicious hot melts and soup after a day out skating on the ice will significantly enhance our customer experience.”

Sharp and partner Brad Holland have worked together as Magic Ice USA for over 20 years in Pittsburgh.

Tom & Chee, which skyrocketed to fame when it was featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in 2013, got its start in 2009 in a tent adjoining a seasonal ice-skating rink on Cincinnati’s Fountain Square. The Pittsburgh location will embrace the chain’s roots as the restaurant is slated to adjoin a major ice-skating rink in Pittsburgh’s central business district. The new Pittsburgh Tom & Chee will be open year-round.

“Tom & Chee started as a scrappy pop-up tent serving warm, hearty food to cold ice skaters on Cincinnati’s Fountain Square,” said Roger David, President & CEO of GSR Brands, parent organization of Tom & Chee. “We are excited to bring that story full circle in Pittsburgh in time for Tom & Chee’s 10th anniversary year with a brand-new restaurant close to Pittsburgh’s outdoor ice-skating rink.”

Tom & Chee is much more than grilled cheese as it is a sensory experience that starts with great service and ends with satisfaction. From adventurous, handcrafted melts to savory soups and fresh salads, the menu offers something for everyone. Tom & Chee believes everyone deserves to be as cheesy as they want to be and enjoy the incredible food, which is why they also offer gluten-free bread, vegan cheese and vegan/vegetarian soups. Top-selling menu items include The Bacon Mac & Chee Melt (cheddar, mozzarella, bacon & mac ‘n cheese), Cubano Melt (Swiss, ham, pork, pickles and sweet hot mustard), Crunchy Garlic Melt (Pepper Jack, chicken sautéed onions, tomato, garlic aioli and kettle chips), and the Green Goat Salad (greens, goat cheese, toasted almonds, chicken, croutons and Balsamic dressing).

In addition to handcrafted melts and salads, Tom & Chee is known for its unique grilled sweet cheets. The famous Grilled Chee Donut (grilled glazed donut and mild cheddar cheese) and the S’more Donut (grilled glazed donut, graham cracker, chocolate pieces and marshmallow mascarpone) are fan favorites.

Lighter fare includes soup and salads like Tom & Chee’s Classic Tomato Soup, Creamy Tomato Basil Soup, Garden Grilled Cheese Salad topped with bacon and grilled cheese croutons, and the Green Goat Salad featuring mixed greens, goat cheese, chicken, dried cranberries, almonds, house-made croutons, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Tom & Chee is actively seeking owners for new franchise opportunities in the Pittsburgh region, and throughout the Midwest. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit https://franchise.tomandchee.com/.

More details about the new location will be released this summer. For information about Tom & Chee, visit www.tomandchee.com, or connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4TomAndChee.

About Tom & Chee

Tom & Chee is an innovative restaurant chain that offers a unique menu based off of the classic meal, Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup. What began in a small tent next to an ice-skating rink in Cincinnati’s Fountain Square quickly but quietly grew to multiple stores in the Cincinnati market, and they began franchising. Tom & Chee has been featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, The Chew, The Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food Nation, Amazing Eats. The Today Show named their Grilled Cheese Doughnut one of the “Best Sandwiches in America.” For more information, visit www.tomandchee.com.