Cheshire’s Jake’s Franchising LLC, which franchises the Jake’s Wayback Burgers chain, said it will begin franchising a barbecue restaurant brand this spring.
Under an agreement with Uncle Willie’s BBQ — which has two restaurants in North Haven and Seymour — Jake’s will seek to grow the brand in the Northeast and beyond.
“The Uncle Willie’s brand is a fan-favorite in the region and we see it seamlessly converting to a franchise model,” Wayback President John Eucalitto said in a statement.
Patricia Verderame, who is a multi-unit Wayback franchisee, will be president of Uncle Willie’s International LLC.
The new franchising entity will operate independently of Wayback, and Willie’s founders Bill and Diane Lombardi will continue to own their two locations, the company said.