Four Twin Cities-Based Franchises to Watch

StartMN

Four Twin Cities-Based Franchises to Watch

From spa to fast-casual dining, these local businesses are set for national expansion.

September 29, 2021

The Twin Cities is headquarters to some of the nation’s most successful franchise operations, including Self Esteem Brands (Anytime Fitness, Waxing The City), Dairy Queen, Great Clips, Regis Corp. (Supercuts, Cost Cutters), and Winmark Corp. (Plato’s Closet, Play It Again Sports). Here comes the next generation.

Face Foundrié

A Minneapolis-based express facial salon that offers 20- and 40-minute facials and walk-in appointments, with prices starting at $45. Other services include brow shaping, lash application, and dermaplaning.

The pitch: Facials should be part of a regular skin care routine, not reserved for a “spa day,” which can seem time consuming and cost prohibitive.

Founder: Michele Henry

Locations: Three in the Twin Cities and one in Chicago; 15 under construction, including St. Paul, Phoenix, Houston, and Tampa. facefoundrie.com

Crisp & Green

Wayzata-based fast-casual restaurant serving made-to-order salads and grain bowls. Its app for ordering ahead fueled fast growth during the pandemic and allowed an expansion into grocery, selling ready-to-serve fresh ingredients—diced tomatoes, grilled turkey—in 12- and 24-ounce containers.

The pitch: Making healthy eating easy. The company says 20 percent of customers visit at least three times a week.

Founder: Steele Smiley

Locations: 10 in the Twin Cities, South Dakota, and Dallas; 43 more slated to open soon in 10 states, from Florida to Colorado. crispandgreen.com

*Crisp & Green founder Steele Smiley also plans to franchise Wayzata-based Stalk & Spade, his new plant-based burger restaurant.

Casa de Corazón

Maple Grove-based Spanish immersion early-learning program serving children from infancy through preschool, plus enrichment programs for students in grades 1 through 6.

The pitch: Providing inclusive, diverse day care services in an intercultural setting, where kids of different cultures learn from one another.

Founder: Natalie Standridge

Locations: Seven locations in the Twin Cities and Wisconsin and one under construction in Rochester; talks underway with potential franchisees in Texas, Colorado, Washington state, and Florida. casaearlylearning.com

Bubbly Paws

Minneapolis-based dog grooming salon and dog washing service.

The pitch: “There’s no real leader in a grooming franchise, and most of the other companies are newer, with no track record of success, where we have 10 years already,” says co-founder Keith Miller.