Tom and Chee

What Tom and Chee does

Tom and Chee is a fast-casual restaurant franchise founded in 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by Trew Quackenbush and Corey Ward, specializing in handcrafted grilled cheese sandwiches, homemade soups, fresh salads, and signature grilled cheese donuts branded as 'Sweet Cheets.' The brand gained national recognition following its 2013 appearance on ABC's Shark Tank, which generated more than 25,000 franchise inquiries, and was subsequently named by Forbes as one of the 10 best businesses to emerge from the show. After early rapid expansion to 35 units led to operational failures, the company was acquired in September 2017 by GSR Brands (the parent company of Gold Star Chili, which operates 70+ locations across three states), and now operates approximately 7 franchised and company-owned locations across Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma, with additional units in development.

The underlying technology stack is operational rather than digital: under GSR Brands, the kitchen was retooled from steam shell grills to high-speed ovens, reducing sandwich cook times from approximately 4 minutes to 50 seconds, while the menu was streamlined by 60% and the restaurant footprint was right-sized to approximately 1,400–1,800 square feet with 22+ seats in the new '&Crafted' prototype. No mobile app, proprietary software platform, or AI capability is referenced in the source material — the digital surface is limited to online ordering for pickup and delivery, a basic email eClub, and standard social media channels.

Revenue is generated through two streams: direct-to-consumer food sales at restaurant locations (including catering and online ordering) and franchise economics consisting of a $30,000 initial franchise fee, a 5% ongoing royalty, and a 1.5% marketing/brand-building fee over a 20-year franchise agreement term. Total franchise investment ranges from $302,700 to $456,000, with cash liquidity requirements of $125,000 and net worth requirements of $300,000. The customer base spans individual consumers seeking elevated comfort food (including dietary accommodations such as gluten-free bread, vegan cheese, and vegan/vegetarian soups) and prospective franchisees — frequently first-time restaurant operators attracted by the brand's media profile, the GSR Brands support infrastructure, and a comparatively low entry investment for the fast-casual category.

Name

Tom and Chee

Legal name

TCWW, LLC

Website

https://tomandchee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Tom and Chee is a Cincinnati-based fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in handcrafted grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, salads, and signature grilled donuts, operating approximately 7 locations across five U.S. states under GSR Brands ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast Casual Restaurants

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

akta.pro primary industry

Family-Style Restaurants (THAFACAC)

Keywords

• Fast casual restaurants
• Grilled cheese sandwiches
• Restaurant franchise
• Comfort food catering
• Handcrafted melts

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Sales (Direct-to-Consumer): Tom & Chee generates revenue through direct food sales at restaurant locations to individual consumers. Customers purchase handcrafted melts, soups, salads, grilled cheese donuts, and beverages at individual locations. The company also offers catering services for events and gatherings. Online ordering is available for pickup and delivery.
2. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Tom & Chee earns revenue from franchisees through an initial franchise fee (one-time) and ongoing royalty fees (5% of sales) plus a marketing/brand building fee (1.5%). Franchisees pay for the right to use the Tom & Chee brand, operating model, training, and ongoing support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tom & Chee is a fast-casual restaurant concept specializing in handcrafted grilled cheese melts, homemade soups, fresh salads, and its signature Sweet Cheets (grilled glazed donuts with cheese and sweet toppings). The brand operates dine-in, carryout, delivery, catering, and franchised locations across multiple U.S. states.

Product overview

Tom & Chee is a fast-casual restaurant chain offering handcrafted melts (gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches), homemade soups, fresh salads, and their signature Grilled Cheese Donuts (Sweet Cheets). The company operates on a Pick 2 model allowing customers to combine items. The menu has been streamlined since GSR Brands acquired the company in 2017, reducing the original menu by 60% and focusing on their core competencies: melts, soups, and salads. The brand is known for unique comfort food combinations and has gained national recognition through appearances on Shark Tank and other media outlets. Tom & Chee also offers catering services for events and gatherings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handcrafted Melts Signature grilled cheese sandwiches with various fillings including cheese, bacon, chicken, vegetables, and specialty ingredients. Offerings include The Bacon Mac & Chee Melt, Crunchy Garlic Chicken, Kickin' Chicken, Chicken Bacon Ranch, Asiago Chicken Club, Pesto & Turkey, and Heavenly BBQ Chicken. Sold at restaurant locations to dine-in and takeout customers.
• Homemade Soups Classic Tomato Soup and Creamy Tomato Basil Soup served alongside melts, with vegan/vegetarian soup options also offered to guests with dietary restrictions.
• Fresh Salads Fresh garden and composed salads including Green Goat Salad (mixed greens, goat cheese, chicken, dried cranberries, almonds, balsamic vinaigrette), Garden Grilled Cheese Salad (topped with bacon and grilled cheese croutons), and Apple Pecan Chicken Salad.
• Grilled Cheese Donut (Sweet Cheets) Unique grilled glazed donuts with cheese and toppings, including the famous Grilled Chee Donut (grilled glazed donut and mild cheddar cheese) and S'more Donut (grilled glazed donut, graham cracker, chocolate pieces and marshmallow mascarpone). Named one of the 'Best Sandwiches in America' by The Today Show.
• Pick 2 Combo Meals Combination meal option allowing customers to pair two items from the menu, typically combining a melt with soup or salad.
• Soups & Mac Macaroni and cheese dishes, including the Bacon Mac & Chee Melt which features cheddar, mozzarella, bacon, and homemade mac & cheese.
• Grate Sides and Extras Side items and extras including potato salad, kettle chips, and other accompaniments to complement melts and soups.
• Kid's Meal Child-friendly meal options sized appropriately for younger guests.
• Drinks Beverage offerings including Coca-Cola products (currently serving Coca-Cola beverages after switching back from Pepsi).
• Catering Catering services for events offering box lunches, heaping platters of melts, and group meal options for gatherings. Available through the company website for pickup or delivery at participating locations.
• Tom & Chee Franchise Opportunity Franchise program for entrepreneurs seeking to own and operate Tom & Chee restaurant locations, including the right to use the Tom & Chee brand, operating model, training, and ongoing support. Initial franchise fee of $30,000 for the first location; total investment range of $302,700–$456,000; ongoing royalty fee 5% and marketing/brand building fee 1.5% of sales; 20-year franchise agreement term; cash liquidity requirement $125,000 and net worth requirement $300,000.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cook time reduced from ~4 minutes to 50 seconds per sandwich through high-speed oven technology
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GSR Brands (Gold Star Chili)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2017GSR Brands, the parent company of Gold Star Chili (70+ locations across three states with over 50 years of experience), acquired Tom & Chee assets in September 2017. At the time of acquisition, Tom & Chee had 23 locations. GSR Brands provides Tom & Chee with infrastructure, franchise support systems, operational expertise, capital, and a new restaurant prototype design. GSR CEO Roger David serves as the leader overseeing the Tom & Chee brand relaunch and expansion.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Jimmy John's: National sandwich franchise with broad geographic reach. Comparable on franchise model and sandwich category competition.
• Which Wich: Franchise sandwich concept with customizable made-to-order menu. Comparable on fast-casual sandwich positioning and franchise model.
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Established fast-casual sandwich chain with similar toasted-sandwich menu and franchise-adjacent growth. Operates at significantly larger scale than Tom & Chee.
• Panera Bread: National fast-casual chain combining soups, sandwiches, and salads. Overlaps with Tom & Chee's core menu and target diner, but operates at vastly greater scale.
• Jersey Mike's Subs: National franchise sandwich chain with aggressive unit growth and similar franchise-fee economics. Comparable on franchise model and sandwich category.
• Firehouse Subs: Multi-unit franchise sandwich chain. Comparable on franchise-driven growth, unit economics, and sandwich positioning.

Regional players

• Penn Station East Coast Subs: Franchise sandwich chain with strong regional concentration. Comparable on franchise model and toasted-sandwich menu, though largely East Coast-focused.

Direct peers

• The Melt: Fast-casual chain purpose-built around grilled cheese sandwiches and soups. Closest direct comparable to Tom & Chee in menu positioning and target diner.
• Melt Shop: Fast-casual grilled cheese and melt concept with multiple locations. Directly overlaps Tom & Chee on product, format, and price point.
• American Grilled Cheese Kitchen: Restaurant concept focused exclusively on elevated grilled cheese offerings. Comparable menu positioning and casual-dining experience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tomandchee
• Facebookfacebook.com/4TomAndChee
• Instagraminstagram.com/tomandchee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tom-chee

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tom and Chee