Unburger launches franchising with first location set for Ann Arbor

Dearborn-based Unburger is opening its first franchise restaurant in Ann Arbor in August, marking the plant-based fast-casual brand’s push beyond Metro Detroit. The move brings a fully plant-based menu to a high-traffic campus area near the University of Michigan and opens the door for more franchise growth.

Why it matters: - Unburger is turning from a single local concept into a franchised brand with a broader growth plan. - The Ann Arbor opening puts a plant-based fast-casual option in a busy college market near the University of Michigan. - The expansion signals demand for plant-based comfort food beyond Metro Detroit.

What happened: - Unburger announced that it is now franchising. - The first new franchise location will open in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at 635 S Main St inside The Yard. - The Ann Arbor restaurant is slated to open in August, ahead of the fall semester. - The location is near the University of Michigan campus area. - The Ann Arbor store will be operated by Bobak Bakhtiari, an actor, entrepreneur and plant-forward business owner. - Bakhtiari is also the founder of Hangry Planet, a California-based plant-based convenience store concept.

The details: - Unburger was founded by Christopher Oliver after he shifted to a plant-based diet following personal health challenges. - Moe Abdallah, Anton Duhani and Karl Makky joined the business in 2021 and helped reshape the brand. - Abdallah serves as Chief Brand & Technology Officer and leads brand experience, marketing, digital platforms and technology. - Duhani serves as Chief Culinary Officer and oversees the kitchen, recipes and menu development. - Makky serves as Chief Operating Officer and leads operations, systems and scale. - Unburger describes itself as a 100% plant-based quick-service restaurant founded in Dearborn in 2018. - The menu includes burgers, crispy Chick’n sandwiches, nuggets, fries, loaded sides, dairy-free shakes, kombucha, desserts and kids’ meals. - Signature items include The Unoriginal™, Hot Hunny Chick’n, Hippie Hash, seasoned fries and dairy-free shakes. - Franchise inquiries are now open. - Interested operators can learn more through the company's website or by emailing hello@unburgergrill.com. - Unburger also listed social media pages on Instagram and Facebook.

Between the lines: - The brand is positioning plant-based food as familiar, craveable and mainstream, not niche or restrictive. - The company is leaning on hospitality, systems and community connection as the backbone of its franchise pitch. - The Ann Arbor site gives Unburger a test case in a dense student market before a wider expansion push. - The company’s messaging suggests it wants to grow beyond Metro Detroit without losing the identity that built its early following.

What's next: - Unburger said additional grand opening details will be announced soon. - Franchise outreach is underway as the brand looks for operators in new markets. - The company plans to expand beyond Metro Detroit while keeping the quality and personality of the original concept.

The bottom line: - Unburger is using its first franchise in Ann Arbor to prove that a fully plant-based fast-food brand can scale.