‘Let the Ribs Times Roll’ with Tony Roma’s Franchise in Lafayette

Our ribs franchise is a prime candidate for the hopping Cajun restaurant scene

Cajuns know a thing or three about good food — whether it’s gumbo, etouffee or boiled crawfish. Barbecue is also a popular choice in south Louisiana, and with the growing population in the Lafayette area, we’re convinced the market is ripe for a Tony Roma’s franchise.

tony roma's ribs franchise

“This market is a powerhouse when it comes to restaurants, and we believe Tony Roma’s is a great fit,” says Stephen K. Judge, Tony Roma’s President and CEO. “Louisiana loves unique, delicious food, and no one does ribs like Tony Roma’s.”

Just this past October, Tony Roma’s opened our new global prototype restaurant on International Drive in Orlando. The new flagship restaurant redefines the Tony Roma’s brand experience and is the model for all future locations around the world. We’re building on Tony Roma’s strong heritage and positioning the brand for future domestic and international growth by transforming the restaurant environment, service approach, and food and beverage offerings to meet the demands of today’s consumer. The brand and restaurant transformation has already been met with enthusiastic feedback from local, national and international guests and influential industry media.

When it comes to Louisiana and Tony Roma’s delicious ribs, all we can say is “Let the ribs time roll!” Here are a couple of reasons why.

We do ribs and do them right

Ribs are what made Tony Roma’s famous in the early 1970s and then catapulted the brand to global recognition. They are the core element of our iconic brand’s DNA, and we are looking forward to capitalizing on our strong brand affinity as we revolutionize Tony Roma’s and make our already craveable menu even more mouthwatering and memorable. Even better, ribs are an underserved category.

“No other franchise provides the quality and consistency of product that Tony Roma’s offers,” Stephen says. “They’re a component on a lot of restaurant menus, but we put them front and center — at the heart of everything we do.”

People love ribs and that’s why they’ve been coming to Tony Roma’s for more than 45 years to “put their rib face on” with a delicious mess of ribs.

Grow larger revenues faster with Tony Roma’s ribs franchise

Tony Roma’s is an upscale casual dining brand that has stood the test of time for more than four decades. One of the primary reasons restaurant investors choose full-service casual dining concepts is they often have significantly higher revenue potential — extensive appetizer and alcohol menus mean higher ticket prices than those at a fast-casual or QSR concept. Our square footage is higher, and menu prices are higher — meaning you have the opportunity to make potentially higher revenue.

Our new flagship on I-Drive is an affordable way to jump into this potentially lucrative business. In fact, startup costs average in the $1.9 million to $3 million range — a comfortable entry point in the upscale dining market.

“When you look at upscale dining franchises, Tony Roma’s startup costs are less expensive than some of the competitors,” Stephen says. “Yet, our menu is priced at a place where customers make us a part of their routine, visiting frequently for their favorite dishes and refreshments and driving up revenues week after week.”

Learn more about bringing Tony Roma’s franchise to your community

We are looking for business owners, particularly multi-unit operators, who love food and people. Our new leadership is focused on aggressive U.S. and Canadian expansion over the next five to 10 years. Click here to read through our research pages or request more information about opening a Tony Roma’s franchise.