Which Columbus, OH corridors are open for Nash & Smashed franchise development?

Open Central Ohio trade areas include Polaris, Easton, the Ohio State / High Street corridor, Grandview, Westerville, New Albany, Hilliard and Grove City. Our real estate team reviews traffic counts, visibility and territory boundaries during your introductory call.

Do I need prior restaurant ownership experience to open in Columbus?

No prior restaurant experience is required. Every franchisee completes 40 hours of structured training (6 hours classroom and 34 hours hands-on) backed by 12 corporate support commitments covering site selection, buildout and launch marketing.

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.

Bring Nash & Smashed to Columbus, OH

Capture Ohio's fastest-growing metro across Polaris, Easton, the Short North, Ohio State campus blocks and I-270 suburbs with Nashville-style sandwiches, fried chicken, smashed burgers, mocktails and cakes under one roof.

National franchise overview · Ohio franchise guide

Columbus anchors Central Ohio with one of the Midwest's strongest demographic growth curves, pairing Ohio State University's massive North High Street campus and Wexner Medical Center workforce with premier retail power centers at Polaris Parkway, Easton Town Center and Tuttle. Our five revenue lines — Nashville-style sandwiches, fried chicken, smashed burgers, mocktails and cakes — serve student late-evening cravings, corporate weekday lunches and suburban family dinners from a single kitchen line.

With open single-unit and multi-unit territory availability across Franklin and southern Delaware counties — including Grandview Yard, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Hilliard, Grove City and the New Albany SR-161 tech corridor — our corporate team guides you through site selection, 1,600+ sq ft inline or Express layout planning, 40 hours of training (6 classroom + 34 on the job), and grand-opening execution.

High-growth Central Ohio trade areas along I-71, I-270 and High Street

Polaris Parkway, Gemini Place & US-23 North: Regional shopping destination and corporate office hub drawing affluent households from northern Columbus, Westerville, Lewis Center and Powell.
Easton Town Center, Morse Road & New Albany (I-270 East / SR-161): High-volume lifestyle retail, Gahanna family neighborhoods and expanding technology employment campuses.
North High Street, University District, Short North & Grandview Yard: Dense Ohio State student blocks, hospital staff corridors and walkable mixed-use apartments ideal for Express Units and 1,600 sq ft storefronts.
Hilliard-Rome Road & Grove City Stringtown Road (I-270 West / I-71 South): Busy grocery-anchored strip centers with strong evening dine-in and third-party delivery demand.

Bring Nash & Smashed to Columbus, OH

High-growth Central Ohio trade areas along I-71, I-270 and High Street

Columbus, OH concept guides & nearby markets