Tulsa Company Branching Nationwide

A taste of Tulsa is about to be available across the nation. The locally based Rib Crib is expanding offering buyers across the country chance to own a franchise. <br><br>The smell of hickory greets

Sunday, March 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A taste of Tulsa is about to be available across the nation. The locally based Rib Crib is expanding offering buyers across the country chance to own a franchise.

The smell of hickory greets you before the hostess can at Tulsa's Rib Crib Restaurants. That aroma is about to hit the senses of people across the country.

"We're getting ready to file our uniform franchise circular with the Federal Trade Commission in July," says March Chastain.

That means investors can apply to become a franchise owner if you've got just under a million dollars and the company's approval. Before the Tulsa restaurant owners were ready, others were already getting anxious.

"We've been getting phone calls from people regularly for the last year and a half," says Chastain.

The restaurant owner says he had no idea when he started the first Rib Crib store eight years ago that he would be franchising so soon.

"I had been in the restaurant business and really felt like their was a niche for the barbecue segment," says Co-owner Bret Chandler. The Rib Crib isn't the only Oklahoma-based restaurant that has franchised Johnnie's CharBroilers is based in Oklahoma City. They first franchised in Tulsa two years ago, and there's already talk of even more stores.

"It's been good we've had several contacts here in Tulsa of people wanting to open more stores in Tulsa and in the surrounding areas," says General Manager Bill Whitworth.

Johnnie's general manager says seven families went in together to buy the first franchise and it's been successful. But it's not easy.

"The restaurant business is tough," says Whitworth.

But it's lucrative and that's what keeps eateries like the Rib Crib growing beyond state lines. There are currently 16-corporate owned Rib Crib restaurants.The franchises will be available later this year.