When Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine profiled Robert Schermer, Jr. last year they noted that he ascribes to the school of life that says, “Go big or go home.” He certainly isn’t failing that grade by any measure. Schermer is the Chief Executive Officer of Meritage Hospitality Group based in Grand Rapids. As such he is the owner of a huge array of Wendy’s restaurants across the nation, including the Wendy’s of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph and others in Michigan’s Great Southwest.
Schermer’s Meritage Hospitality Group announced this week that they have acquired eight more Wendy’s restaurants around Michigan as a portion of nearly $112-million in new investments for his burgeoning corporation.
New to Meritage Hospitality are the Wendy’s sites in Big Rapids, Cadillac and Cedar Springs as well as five other sites scattered throughout the metropolitan Detroit region.
Meritage already owns the Wendy’s at 1986 M-139 in Benton Township, the restaurant inside the Pilot Truck Stop at 1860 E. Napier Avenue in Benton Harbor, the St. Joseph version at 2800 Niles Avenue, and Wendy’s restaurants on CR 388 in South Haven and S. 11th Street in Niles. Also in the fold in our region are Wendy’s locations in Michigan City, LaPorte, and Chesterton with two locations in Mishawaka and three each in both South Bend and Elkhart.
Addressing this week’s new additions, Schermer says, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to expand our existing Wendy’s footprint in Michigan with this group of seasoned restaurants. We intend to integrate each of the newly acquired locations into our unique web-based operating & accounting platform, followed by a remodeling program to update the restaurants and enhance the guest experience.”
The 8 Michigan restaurants being added are in addition to two additional definitive agreements currently pending which would see Meritage acquiring 61 other Wendy’s restaurants located in five Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. Those transactions are slated to be complete during the second quarter.
Schermer’s team estimates that the combined 69 new restaurants will add approximately $90-million in annual sales and be accretive to earnings.
Meritage Hospitality Group is one of the nation’s premier restaurant operators, with 189 restaurants in operation located in Michigan, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma and Virginia.
Schermer told Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine last year, “We always intended to grow the company to the size it is today.” He was also quoted as telling editors there, “Wendy’s has never been more exciting than it is today — the products are back on!”
In addition to his growing stable of Wendy’s restaurants, Meritage is also home to four independent casual dining concepts called Twisted Rooster, Crooked Goose, Freighters Eatery & Taproom and the Wheelhouse.
Even though he already has 189 restaurants and counting, Schermer’s goal is 300 restaurants by 2021 — just four years out. In a letter to shareholders last fall he called that kind of growth plan “both ambitious and achievable.” Since he lives the “go big or go home” lifestyle — I wouldn’t bet against him. Stay tuned.
