Iconic Massachusetts Franchise Continues to Expand with Seven New Locations Planned for the New Year
The Boston-based inventor of the North Shore roast beef sandwich, Kelly’s Roast Beef, is celebrating a strong end to 2023 and heading into 2024 with plans for continued national expansion as demand increases. Wrapping up the year with successful franchise development across the nation and meeting their expansion goals, Kelly’s saw a significant increase in company revenue and signed new franchise development deals which will help the brand start the new year on the right foot. With seven new locations already slated for a 2024 opening, the beloved franchise is poised for a successful new year and is looking to open and serve its signature roast beef and seafood menu items to communities around the nation.
Founded in 1951, Kelly’s Roast Beef is famously known as the inventor of the North Shore roast beef sandwich. Kelly’s roasts its beef in-house all day while serving everything fresh and made to order. The iconic franchise is coming off an impressive year with three new locations added in 2023, bringing its ever-growing total to nine. With one location opening in the brand’s home state of Massachusetts, located in Dedham, Kelly’s proudly continued the development of the Florida market, opening two new locations within the Sunshine State. The brand is on pace to open one additional location in Massachusetts and six locations within Florida in 2024 with the help of franchise development firm RA Ventures.
“It was a busy year for Kelly’s Roast Beef. Opening new locations in Massachusetts and Florida and signing franchise development deals to further expand our presence nationwide, all while dealing with a turbulent labor market and changing consumer habits with the increase of more off-premise dining,” said Neil Newcomb, CEO of Kelly’s Roast Beef Franchising. “I am so proud of everyone within the Kelly’s organization. Their continued commitment and devoted brand loyalty is the reason we are in the position to expand and soon be able to offer locations across the nation and beyond.”
The brand is poised for success in 2024 and hopes to bring the legendary Kelly’s Roast Beef sandwich to a town near you. The process begins with a carving machine that thinly slices 25-day-aged, medium-rare roasted sirloin-tip meat. The sirloin is then placed on a buttered, griddled hamburger roll, and topped with any condiments the customer desires plus a slice of cheese. Today, a busy location during its peak season can sell upwards of 20,000 roast beef sandwiches a month. Across its multiple locations, Kelly’s estimates a staggering one million sandwiches are sold a year. The figures are impressive but equally impressive is that even in the face of tremendous volume, Kelly’s has not gone towards a commissary set-up. Instead, each location roasts its beef in-house all through the day, ensuring that sandwiches can still be carved to order as they have been for decades. That, in and of itself, is the hallmark of a Kelly’s sandwich, said Newcomb, “It’s never sitting. It’s a medium-rare, melt-in-your-mouth, roast beef sandwich.”
“We are thrilled to continue to expand our brand’s unique concept into new markets throughout the country in 2024,” continued Newcomb. “Our restaurants’ food and atmosphere are enjoyed by everyone, in both suburban and urban demographics, and we can’t wait to provide the highest-quality experience to communities around the nation. We are all looking forward to continued expansion throughout the northeast and Florida.”
The Kelly’s franchise opportunity has been a long time coming. Throughout the years, Kelly’s has gained national attention on the Food Network’s show $40 a Day with Rachael Ray, a PBS Special called “Sandwiches You Will Like”, Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland by Ace Atkins, NBC’s three-time Emmy award-winning 30 Rock, and on the silver screen in Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting. In 2019, Thrillist named Kelly’s one of “11 New England Chains the Entire Country Needs” and Business Insider said travelers shouldn’t leave Boston without trying the roast beef sandwich at Kelly’s.
Including a franchise fee of $40,000, the total initial investment to open a Kelly’s franchise is $1.8-$3 million.
Founded in 1951 and franchising since 2020, Kelly’s Roast Beef is the inventor of the North Shore roast beef sandwich. Kelly’s roasts its beef in-house all through the day, serves everything fresh and made-to-order, and estimates serving a staggering one million sandwiches a year. The brand has become a symbol for Boston and has been referenced in pop culture, including in 30 Rock and Good Will Hunting. Today, there are five locations open in the Boston metropolitan area. For more information, visit KellysRoastBeefFranchise.com.
