Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2016 | Page 38

RECONNECT
BY KERRY PIPES

Rollin’ Stone

A

Zee and zor, John Metz gathers no moss

conversation with John Metz invariably leads to all kinds of topics, peppered with opinions and
pointed insights gleaned from his
many, and diverse, business adventures.
Metz has a colorful history in franchising,
as well as real estate. He’s spent time with
brands including Denny’s, Dairy Queen,
Marriott, Howard Johnson, Bennigan’s,
Old Chicago, Burger King, Hilton, and
Days Inn. “I’ve been involved with at
least 25 different types of businesses since
1999,” he says.
In 2008, he became a franchisor by
acquiring the 30-unit Hurricane Grill &
Wings system and setting it on the path to
growth and financial success. The brand
now has 75 units open for business with
healthy financials to boot. “Hurricane
broke $100 million in system sales in
2015,” says Metz, who has now proven
his mettle on both the franchisee and the

36

franchisor sides.
At 62, Metz says he’s nowhere near
finished with his franchising journey. He’s
currently in the middle of a deal that would
see him open a minimum of 20 new restaurants for a new brand in the American
heartland. He would, of course, also own
the real estate. That’s how he rolls.
He’s also building a Marriott Residence
Inn scheduled to open in the last quarter
of 2016; taking his Hurricane Grill &
Wings brand international with a new
deal in Italy and another in Canada; and
is launching his newest brand, Hurricane
BTW, a spinoff of his successful Hurricane brand (“BTW” stands for burgers,
tacos, and wings). The first corporate
store opened in December and two more
are on the way.
With all this going it was high time to
catch up with him since our last profile
in 2009.

NAME: John Metz
TITLE: President
COMPANY: RREMC
NO. OF UNITS: Denny’s, 41;
Dairy Queen, 1; Marriott
Residence Inn (currently building);
as a franchisor of Hurricane Grill
& Wings, 75 (4 corporate and
71 franchised); 1 Hurricane BTW
AGE: 62
FAMILY: 2 ex-wives, 2 children,

girlfriend and her 4 children

YEARS IN FRANCHISING: In one

capacity or another since 1989

YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION:

15 years with Denny’s

MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S UE I, 2016

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