Which neighborhoods and corridors in Columbia fit a Nash & Smashed location?

Priority trade areas in Columbia include Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Forest Acres, Cayce and Blythewood. Our real estate team evaluates traffic counts, visibility, co-tenancy and delivery radius for every proposed site after you inquire.

What space and experience do I need to open in Columbia, SC?

No prior restaurant experience is required — every franchise owner completes 40 hours of training (6 classroom + 34 on the job) backed by 12 corporate support commitments. Full Restaurant spaces start at 1,600 square feet, with Express Unit and Food Truck formats also available.

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 Columbia, SC

Build a fast-casual franchise across Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Forest Acres, Cayce and Blythewood — serving Nashville-style sandwiches, fried chicken, smashed burgers, mocktails and cakes under one roof with 40 hours of training and 12 corporate support commitments.

National franchise overview · South Carolina franchise guide

Columbia combines strong daypart demand across Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Forest Acres, Cayce and Blythewood, supported by University of South Carolina's 35,000+ students, Fort Jackson, state government and I-26 / I-20 suburban plazas. Our five revenue lines — Nashville-style sandwiches, fried chicken, smashed burgers, mocktails and cakes — allow operators to capture weekday commuter lunches, family dinners and late-evening delivery orders from a single kitchen line.

Whether you are evaluating a 1,600+ sq ft inline or endcap Full Restaurant, a compact Express Unit in a high-foot-traffic corridor, or a Food Truck, our corporate team guides you through Columbia site selection, lease review, kitchen layout, 40 hours of training (6 classroom + 34 on the job), and grand-opening marketing.

Franchise trade areas across Columbia

The Vista, Five Points & Devine Street (USC Campus Core): High-density student, state capitol and downtown dining corridors ideal for Express or inline units.
Harbison Boulevard, Irmo & Dutch Fork (I-26 West): Regional mall and power-center shopping corridor serving northwestern Richland and Lexington counties.
Lexington (US-378 / Sunset Blvd) & Two Notch Road (Northeast Columbia): Fast-growing suburban family corridors with strong lunch and dinner traffic.

Open a Nash & Smashed in Columbia, SC

Franchise trade areas across Columbia

Columbia, SC concept guides & nearby markets