1985
3
$288,500
$35,000
$1,064,100
No
Step into the thriving world of casual dining with Dugan’s — a beloved American brand that masterfully fuses the warm, communal energy of a neighborhood sports bar with the culinary passion of a full-service grill. For entrepreneurs seeking a franchise with strong appeal, memorable identity, and room to scale, the Dugan’s franchise model offers a compelling path to success. With decades of brand heritage, an ever-evolving menu, and flexible formats, Dugan’s is not just another restaurant—it’s a destination where friends gather, games are celebrated, and great food becomes tradition.
From our signature Buffalo-style wings to loaded nachos, burgers, seafood, and creative bar fare, every dish carries the Dugan’s promise: food made fresh, served with friendly energy, in an environment where patrons feel like family. For franchisees, this means tapping into a proven blueprint, strong brand equity, and multiple revenue streams that go beyond just food—think catering, nightlife events, sports viewing, and local community tie-ins.
Proven Brand Credibility – Dugan’s has been a staple in the Atlanta market for over 40 years, known across its region for high-quality wings and a loyal following.
Flexible Format Options – Whether you want a compact take-away or full sports grill with bar and entertainment, the Dugan’s model adapts to urban, suburban, or nontraditional locations.
Strong Unit Economics – The operating model emphasizes efficiency, cost control, and high-margin offerings (e.g. wings, shareables) to maximize profitability.
Multi-Revenue Channels – Beyond dine-in, Dugan’s supports revenue from catering, events, sports nights, beverage sales, and merchandise.
Support & Scalability – Franchisees are not left to fend for themselves — from site selection, training, grand opening to ongoing marketing, Dugan’s offers guided support.
Distinct Market Position – In a crowded casual dining space, Dugan’s differentiates by blending strong bar appeal, sports entertainment, and a focused menu of fan favorites.
Brand Name: Dugan’s
Industry Category: Casual Dining / Sports Bar & Grill
Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Founded: 1985 (roots trace back to 1979)
Founder: Lou Chambers
Current Ownership: Privately held (expanding through franchise opportunities)
Franchise Status: Actively offering franchise opportunities (early-stage development)
Current Franchise Units: Estimated 0–1 (corporate-owned locations only; franchise rollout stage)
Company-Owned Units: 2–3 (Atlanta metro area, including Northlake/Tucker and historic Ponce location)
The story of Dugan’s begins in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, where founder Lou Chambers brought the authentic taste of Buffalo-style chicken wings to the South in the late 1970s. After moving from Buffalo, New York, Chambers opened the first Dugan’s in 1979, introducing Atlanta diners to a style of wings and bar atmosphere that would soon become legendary.
The first official Dugan’s restaurant, as it is recognized today, opened its doors in 1985 on Ponce de Leon Avenue, quickly becoming a gathering spot for locals, sports fans, and food lovers. Its blend of flavorful wings, hearty pub food, cold drinks, and lively entertainment made it a staple in Atlanta’s nightlife and dining scene for over four decades.
Over time, Dugan’s expanded beyond its flagship into several locations across the Atlanta area — including Tucker, Stone Mountain, and Flat Shoals. Each restaurant maintained the same signature mix of great food, friendly vibes, and community connection that built the brand’s loyal following.
In 2022, Dugan’s made headlines for relocating its Ponce location to a larger, modern venue in Northlake, DeKalb County, signaling the brand’s new growth phase and franchising ambitions. The move marked the company’s intention to take the Dugan’s concept beyond Georgia and introduce it to entrepreneurs nationwide.
Today, Dugan’s is listed on multiple U.S. franchise directories (including Franchise Conduit), outlining its franchise fees, investment range, and operational model — evidence of the brand’s official franchise rollout initiative.
With a 40+ year heritage in Atlanta’s competitive restaurant scene, Dugan’s has earned a reputation as one of the original wing and sports bar pioneers in Georgia. The brand’s unique blend of:
High-energy dining (sports bar meets casual grill)
Signature food items (wings, burgers, and Southern-style comfort food)
Strong bar culture and entertainment
makes it a natural fit for expansion across major U.S. cities that share a love for sports, nightlife, and comfort food — including markets in Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and the Midwest.
Dugan’s competes in the casual dining and sports bar segment, one of the most profitable categories in American foodservice. Brands like Buffalo Wild Wings, Hooters, and Wingstop have proven the long-term consumer demand for quality wings, beer, and a social atmosphere. Dugan’s differentiates itself through its heritage, authentic Southern roots, and community-first philosophy, giving franchisees a strong story and identity to market locally.
Under its current growth strategy, Dugan’s aims to develop a national franchise system built around:
Proven operations and food preparation systems
Scalable restaurant formats
Consistent training and support programs
Targeted franchise partnerships in strategic regions
The company continues to manage and operate its corporate-owned restaurants while gradually opening its model to qualified investors seeking to own and operate a Dugan’s franchise.
To set franchisees up for success, Dugan’s offers a robust and hands-on support system in the following phases:
Site selection & lease negotiation – Analyses of demographics, traffic flow, lease structuring, and assistance in securing favorable terms.
Design & build-out guidance – Standardized blueprints, brand standards, vendor sourcing, and project oversight to ensure efficient, cost-controlled construction.
Procurement & supply chain setup – Access to approved suppliers, initial inventory planning, equipment sourcing, and contract negotiation.
Permits, licensing & compliance – Support navigating local restaurant, liquor, health, and zoning regulations.
Hands-on training – In-person, in-unit training covering food preparation, service, back-house operations, inventory control, safety, and staff workflows.
Management coaching – Guidance on hiring and training management staff, establishing standard operating procedures, and day-to-day oversight.
Marketing launch support – Local marketing plan, publicity, social media campaigns, launch events, promotional collateral, and grand opening strategy.
Unit operations & field support – Experienced field staff visit franchise locations regularly to monitor performance, troubleshoot, and share best practices.
Marketing & branding – National and regional campaigns, creative collateral, digital marketing support, guided social media strategies, and periodic promotional themes.
Menu innovation & R&D – Continuous product development, seasonal menu updates, limited-time offers, and culinary testing to keep the brand fresh.
Supply chain & logistics – Assistance with bulk purchasing, inventory optimization, cost controls, and supplier relationships.
Training refreshers & updates – Webinars, refresher sessions, new staff onboarding programs, and updates on new systems.
Technology & back-office tools – Point-of-sale systems, reporting dashboards, analytics tools, labor scheduling software, and operational dashboards.
Together, this support framework is designed to allow franchisees to focus on executing in their local market—while leveraging the brand expertise, systems, and scale of Dugan’s corporate support.
To unlock the full potential of the Dugan’s franchise model, the ideal franchisee should embody a blend of operational mindset, passion for hospitality, and financial discipline. Here’s the ideal profile:
Strong desire to lead in a consumer-facing food & beverage business
Passionate about food, service, social environments, and community engagement
Embraces brand standards and is committed to delivering consistency
Prior experience managing multi-staff operations (restaurant, retail, service) is a plus
Solid skills in recruiting, training, leading, and retaining teams
Adept at budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and financial management
Sufficient capital resources to cover upfront investment, working capital buffers, and contingencies
Comfortable with the financial discipline required in restaurant operations
Preference for mid- to high-traffic commercial or entertainment districts, shopping centers, mixed-use developments, or adjacent to sports / entertainment venues
Willingness to commit to a market area, embrace local marketing, and engage in community outreach
Resilience, tenacity, and high energy
Customer-first mindset, friendly and outgoing personality
Integrity, alignment to brand values, and desire for a long-term partnership
In short, Dugan’s seeks partners who not only invest financially, but also bring entrepreneurial drive, local market passion, operational discipline, and a dedication to upholding the brand’s reputation.
Below is a representative summary of financial requirements and revenue expectations (to be refined per market, region, lease, and cost conditions). These figures reflect the data publicly available as of now:
| Financial Metric | Estimate / Range |
|---|---|
| Franchise Fee | USD $35,000 |
| Initial Investment (including franchise fee, capital, build-out, etc.) | USD $288,500 to $1,064,100 |
| Royalty Fee (ongoing) | 5% of gross sales |
| Marketing / Ad fund contribution | (Not publicly disclosed; typically 1–3 % of sales in comparable brands) |
| Working Capital & Reserves | Enough to cover initial months of operations, staff payroll, inventory, and utilities |
| Break-even Timeframe | Typically 12–24 months, depending on location, scale, and market traction |
| Expected ROI | Varies by market; strong locations can yield healthy profit margins after stabilization |
| Revenue Streams | Dine-in, take-out, delivery, catering, beverage & bar sales, event nights, merchandise |
Notes & Considerations
The wide investment range reflects the flexibility in concept size (smaller to full sports bar formats).
Royalty fees are moderate compared to peers in the casual dining / bar sector.
Initial marketing budget should be robust to drive awareness, local buzz, and grand opening momentum.
Franchisees should conservatively plan for slower ramp-up in early months to absorb potential volatility.
Upside potential is strong in markets with sports culture, strong night-life, and demand for communal dining.
