Which Asheville retail corridors work best for a 1,600+ sq ft Full Restaurant?

Hendersonville Road through Arden and Biltmore Park, Tunnel Road east of I-240, Brevard Road near the I-26 outlets and Patton Avenue offer accessible parking, strong commuter counts and wide delivery radii.

What menu categories set Nash & Smashed apart in Asheville?

Every store combines five distinct revenue lines under one kitchen: Nashville-style sandwiches with customizable heat levels, fried chicken, hand-smashed burgers, alcohol-free mojitos and shakes, and slice cakes.

What makes Nash & Smashed different from other fast-casual concepts?

Nash & Smashed stands out from other fast-casual concepts by seamlessly combining Nashville-Style Sandwiches, Fried Chicken, and Smashed Burgers in a unique, customizable menu format. The commitment to using high-quality ingredients sets the brand apart, ensuring exceptional quality in every dish. Additionally, the array of signature sauces enhances the flavor experience, allowing guests to tailor their meals to suit individual tastes. A strong focus on community engagement further distinguishes Nash & Smashed, as it actively supports local initiatives and fosters connections within the neighborhoods it serves.

What is the typical timeline from signing to opening a location?

The average timeline from signing a franchise agreement to the opening day is around 6-9 months. However, it's important to note that this process can take up to 6-8 months after site selection due to factors such as lease negotiations, permitting, construction, and training schedules.

Do I need restaurant experience to be a franchise owner?

While restaurant experience is beneficial, it's not required. We're looking for passionate entrepreneurs with strong business acumen, leadership skills, and dedication to customer service. Our comprehensive training program will teach you all aspects of operating a Nash & Smashed restaurant.

What store formats and space requirements does Nash & Smashed offer?

Franchise partners can apply for three distinct operating formats: a Full Restaurant, an Express Unit, or a Food Truck. Full inline and endcap restaurant locations require a minimum footprint of 1,600 square feet, while Express Units are engineered for compact urban storefronts, college corridors, and high-foot-traffic retail centers.

What training and corporate support do franchise owners receive?

Every franchise owner completes 40 hours of structured training — 6 hours in the classroom and 34 hours on the job — covering kitchen execution, inventory systems, staffing, and day-to-day leadership. Beyond initial training, our corporate team delivers 12 pre-opening and post-opening support commitments spanning site selection, architectural layout, vendor onboarding, grand-opening marketing, and ongoing field operations.

How do I receive investment details and explore financing options?

Complete startup costs, fee structures, and itemized investment tables are provided in our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise brochure after you submit an initial inquiry. Prospective franchise owners commonly explore SBA 7(a) loans, Rollovers as Business Startups (ROBS 401(k) rollovers), and Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC) with their financial advisors.

Where does Nash & Smashed currently operate and where can I open a location?

Nash & Smashed serves guests across Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, and Canberra, Australia, with active franchise expansion across the East Coast and adjacent metropolitan corridors.

Open a Nash & Smashed in Asheville, NC

Bring bold cooked-to-order comfort food to Western North Carolina's I-40 and I-26 crossroads — serving residents, hospital staff and Blue Ridge visitors across South Asheville, Tunnel Road and West Asheville.

National franchise overview · North Carolina franchise guide

As the commercial capital of Western North Carolina at the junction of I-40 and I-26, Asheville draws regional shoppers from across the mountains while supporting major local employment at Mission Hospital, Pratt & Whitney's aerospace plant, UNC Asheville and thriving hospitality corridors around Biltmore Village.

While Asheville is famous for independent dining, everyday commuter arteries like Hendersonville Road (US-25), Tunnel Road (US-70), Brevard Road and Patton Avenue show strong underserved demand for elevated, cooked-to-order fried chicken, smashed burgers, Nashville-style sandwiches, mocktails and cakes.

Western North Carolina's healthcare, tourism and retail hub

South Asheville, Hendersonville Road (US-25) & Biltmore Park: High-income residential and corporate retail spine stretching from Biltmore Village through Arden toward Asheville Regional Airport.
Tunnel Road (US-70 East) & East Asheville Shopping Plazas: Primary regional retail and hotel corridor just off I-240 capturing both local errands and mountain visitor traffic.
Brevard Road (NC-191), Asheville Outlets & West Asheville (Patton Ave): High-volume I-26 interchange shopping centers paired with dense West Asheville neighborhoods along Haywood Road and Patton Avenue.
Downtown / Mission Medical District & Merrimon Avenue (UNC Asheville): Hospital shift-change traffic, walkable downtown blocks and North Asheville university and Weaverville commuter plazas.

Open a Nash & Smashed in Asheville, NC

Western North Carolina's healthcare, tourism and retail hub

Asheville, NC concept guides & nearby markets