Established
1947
Franchise Units
15
Minimum Investment
$1,200,000
Franchise Fee
$35,000
Total Investment Range
$2,500,000
Home Based
No
Description
The Monk’s Bar and Grill franchise represents a proven, community-driven casual dining concept rooted in Midwestern hospitality and sports-bar culture. Known for its award-winning burgers, signature Bloody Marys, and welcoming neighborhood atmosphere, Monk’s Bar and Grill has built a loyal following that spans families, sports fans, and everyday diners alike.
Positioned at the intersection of casual dining and sports entertainment, Monk’s offers a full-service restaurant and bar model that performs consistently across lunch, dinner, and weekend peak hours. The brand is especially recognized for creating high-energy environments during local and national sporting events, while still maintaining a comfortable, family-friendly feel during non-game times.
From a market perspective, Monk’s Bar and Grill benefits from strong consumer demand for approachable American fare, craft beverages, and experiential dining. Its menu balances classic comfort foods with modern twists, allowing the brand to stay relevant without chasing short-term food trends. For franchise investors, Monk’s delivers a scalable restaurant concept backed by operational discipline, recognizable branding, and strong community engagement—key drivers of long-term unit stability in the U.S. casual dining sector.
Why Invest in This Franchise?
Monk’s Bar and Grill stands out as an attractive franchise investment due to its combination of brand authenticity, repeat customer appeal, and operational simplicity compared to many full-service restaurant models.
First, the brand enjoys deep local loyalty in its core markets, driven by consistent food quality, generous portions, and a welcoming bar-centric layout that encourages longer guest dwell times. This translates into strong average ticket sizes and beverage-driven margins.
Second, Monk’s is not dependent on a single demographic. Families, working professionals, sports enthusiasts, and weekend social groups all form part of its core customer base. This diversified audience helps stabilize revenue across seasons and economic cycles.
Third, the franchise model is designed for owner-operators and multi-unit investors alike. With standardized recipes, centralized supply chains, and proven store layouts, franchisees benefit from predictable startup and operating processes. Combined with strong game-day traffic, catering opportunities, and bar sales, Monk’s offers multiple revenue streams under one roof—making it a compelling option in the competitive casual dining franchise space.
Background
Established Year: 1947
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Founders: The Monk family
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Industry Category: Casual Dining / Sports Bar Restaurant
Monk’s Bar and Grill traces its roots back to 1947, when it first opened as a neighborhood tavern in Wisconsin. Over decades, the brand evolved organically from a local gathering place into a recognized regional favorite known for burgers, handcrafted drinks, and community-centric dining.
The brand’s journey has been defined by steady, disciplined growth rather than rapid over-expansion. This approach allowed Monk’s to refine its menu, service standards, and restaurant design before expanding through franchising. Today, Monk’s Bar and Grill operates approximately 15+ active units, primarily concentrated in the Midwest, with growing interest in expansion across additional U.S. markets.
Ownership remains closely aligned with the brand’s founding values—quality, consistency, and hospitality. Monk’s has positioned itself as a premium-casual sports bar alternative, offering a more polished dining experience than traditional bars while maintaining approachability and affordability. Its strong regional presence and expanding franchise footprint make it well-suited for secondary and suburban markets where community-driven restaurants perform exceptionally well.
Support Training
Monk’s Bar and Grill provides comprehensive franchise support designed to guide owners from initial planning through long-term operations.
Pre-Launch Support:
Franchisees receive assistance with site selection, lease review coordination, restaurant layout planning, and build-out guidance. The corporate team works closely with franchisees to ensure each location meets brand standards while optimizing flow, seating capacity, and bar visibility.
Training & Operations:
Monk’s delivers structured training programs covering kitchen operations, bar management, food safety, staffing, inventory control, and guest service standards. Training typically includes both classroom instruction and hands-on experience at operating locations to ensure franchisees and management teams are fully prepared before opening.
Marketing & Brand Support:
Franchisees benefit from established brand marketing assets, menu engineering guidance, local store marketing strategies, and promotional planning for sports seasons and community events. National brand direction is paired with localized marketing execution to drive consistent foot traffic.
Ongoing Support:
Post-opening, Monk’s offers continuous operational coaching, performance benchmarking, menu updates, and vendor support. Franchisees also gain access to proven best practices from across the system, helping optimize profitability and operational efficiency over time.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal Monk’s Bar and Grill franchisee is a hands-on entrepreneur or experienced restaurant operator with a passion for hospitality, food service, and community engagement. While prior restaurant experience is beneficial, Monk’s values strong leadership, people management skills, and financial discipline just as highly.
Successful franchisees are typically comfortable managing larger teams, overseeing bar operations, and maintaining consistent service standards in a fast-paced environment. Owner-operators who enjoy being visible in their business often perform especially well, as Monk’s thrives on local relationships and repeat guest interactions.
From an investment standpoint, franchisees should possess the financial capacity to develop a full-service restaurant location and the long-term mindset required to build a neighborhood staple rather than a short-term concept. Ideal locations include suburban corridors, growing secondary markets, and high-traffic community hubs where sports culture and casual dining demand are strong.
Financial Detail
| Category | Estimated Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Total Initial Investment | $1.2M – $2.5M |
| Minimum Investment Required | ~$1.2M |
| Franchise Fee | $35,000 – $50,000 |
| Build-Out & Equipment | $950K – $2.05M |
| Initial Marketing | $25K – $50K |
| Working Capital | $100K – $250K |
| Royalty Fee | ~5% of gross sales |
| Ad / Marketing Fee | ~1% – 2% |
| Break-Even Timeline | 24 – 36 months |
| Revenue Streams | Food, bar sales, events, catering |