Franchise restaurants face challenges in market

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With so many restaurants in Spring-field, competition for customers is fierce.|ret||ret||tab|

In sizing up an area to place a restaurant many franchises do extensive demographic studies, conduct a market analysis and assesses the cost to develop a franchise.|ret||ret||tab|

Sometimes doing one's homework isn't enough.|ret||ret||tab|

Insufficient sales prompted Dick Emmerth, owner of Springfield's two Country Kitchens, to finally close his 5,000-square-foot north-side location at 2450 N. Glenstone Ave. on Jan. 31. The store, which had been open for 18 years, employed 25 people. At the store's closing, they were offered job opportunities at his other location at 3405 E. Battlefield Road, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

The demands of operating a franchise are minimized "because you have lots of guidelines and help... whatever franchise it would be," Emmerth said. He added that making a profitable go of it in the cuisine business in Springfield has its own challenges "due to the sheer number of restaurants."|ret||ret||tab|

In addition to Emmerth's south Springfield location, he owns a store on West Hwy. 76 in Branson, which has been in operation for 13 years.|ret||ret||tab|

Billy Gilbert, general manager of Arby's four Springfield locations, said the major challenge to franchise success is employee training. "If your employees are trained well, that makes the management job easier." |ret||ret||tab|

He attributed increased sales and better employee retention to training as well.|ret||ret||tab|

Sometimes changing geography is the best answer. |ret||ret||tab|

Wendy's has shifted its location from the corner of Sunshine Street and Glenstone Avenue to a new store at 3334 E. Sunshine St. The last day for the Glenstone store, which opened in 1982, was June 30. The East Sunshine Street location opened Sept. 8, 2001. |ret||ret||tab|

Store sales for the 3,600 square-foot Sunshine and Glenstone store were fine, said Julie Harkins, marketing director for Wendy's of Missouri, Inc., the firm that owns seven Wendy's locations in Spring-field. She said access to the restaurant was difficult, however. |ret||ret||tab|

"We've had a lot of complaints that it's hard to get in to," Harkins said.|ret||ret||tab|

Since its closing, the store's 20 employees were given choices as to work locations. "We've maintained all of our employees and (are) just moving them around," Harkins added.|ret||ret||tab|

Harkins said Hamra Enter-prises, which owns the building that housed Wendy's and its neighbor, Midnight Rodeo, has a lease agreement for the restaurant space but could not comment prior to final agreements.|ret||ret||tab|

Chris Kennon, owner of International House of Pancakes at 3804 S. Glenstone Ave., said brand recognition is an advantage in a tourist area such as Springfield and helps his restaurant attract a larger share of the market.|ret||ret||tab|

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