Corner Bakery Cafe
Food & Beverage · Fast-Casual Restaurants
- Active units
- 37
- Royalty
- 5.0%
Franchised, year-end 2023
of weekly Net Sales
About Corner Bakery Cafe
Corner Bakery Cafe is a beloved brand that has been serving delicious, freshly prepared food since its humble beginnings in downtown Chicago. It all started in a small neighborhood bakery on a corner, where the talented team began creating artisan breads and delectable sweets. As word spread about their exceptional baked goods, the bakery expanded its menu to include sandwiches made with their famous bread, homemade soups, salads, and even made-to-order scramblers. What sets Corner Bakery Cafe apart is their commitment to using only the finest, freshest ingredients. Their kitchen is not your typical assembly line, but rather a bustling culinary hub where over 40 different types of fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables are chopped, and real panini grills sizzle with flavor. With a focus on tradition, their ovens work tirelessly throughout the day to ensure that every dish is prepared to perfection. Whether you're craving a delightful breakfast, a satisfying lunch, or a tasty treat to accompany your coffee, Corner Bakery Cafe has got you covered. So why wait? Experience their passion for food and dedication to quality by visiting your nearest Corner Bakery Cafe today.
Key terms
- Franchise fee
$40k
- Brand fund
0.8% of Net Sales
- Local advertising
1.0% of Net Sales
- Footprint
2,200 – 4,000 sq ft
- Development Agreement
$20k
Brand Percentile Rankings
Rankings compare brands in the same operating year. Fee and investment figures come from the FDD (2024 filing); filings on file: 2024, 2025.
Growth
- Total locations37
Franchised units open at year-end
- New openings0
Gross new units opened during the calendar year
- 1-year unit growth rate-11.9%
Net unit growth versus prior year
- 3-year unit CAGR-13.1%
Compound annual growth rate of unit count over the trailing 3 years
- Unit growth ratio0.0×
Cumulative opens / closures through year-end
Unit economics
- Annual unit volume (Median)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- Annual unit volume (25th percentile)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- Annual unit volume (75th percentile)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- 1-year Median AUV growth rate—
Year-over-year change in median AUV
- Store-level EBITDA Margin—
Median unit-level EBITDA / AUV
Investment profile
- Estimated initial investment$1.6M
Midpoint of estimated initial investment range
↓ Lower is better - Time to open9 months
Midpoint of average time from agreement to opening
↓ Lower is better - Royalty rate5.0%
Percent of net sales paid to the franchisor
↓ Lower is better - Sales-to-investment ratio—
Median AUV / estimated initial investment midpoint
- Cash-on-cash returns—
Median unit-level EBITDA / estimated initial investment midpoint. Steady-state estimate; year 1 returns will be lower as the unit ramps to median volumes.
Franchisee healthLocked
- Unit closure ratio
- Transfer vs. closure ratio
- Percent multi-unit franchisees
- Litigation rate
- EBITDA multiple on sales & transfers
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Location footprint
Showing 14 of 14 mapped locations
Sources
Financial and operating figures are sourced from the brand's Franchise Disclosure Documents. Brand percentile rankings are based on comparisons to other brands that include the same metrics in their Franchise Disclosure Documents.