- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Real Estate
A tribal economic development corporation and an Alpena developer are partnering to revive a once-popular Michigan burger chain known for value-pricing and drive-through service in the 1990s.
Gun Lake Investments (GLI), owned by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, and developer Jeff Konczak acquired the Hot ‘n Now in October through their new venture HNN Holdings LLC. The partners plan to open two Michigan locations — one near the tribe’s Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, and one in Alpena in the state’s northeastern region.
The chain, founded in Kalamazoo in 1984, grew to more than 100 locations across 15 states by 1990. After changing hands several times, including ownership by PepsiCo's Taco Bell unit, the brand dwindled to a single location in Sturgis, Mich.
The new Wayland location will be situated on 129th Avenue between the Noonday Market and the Gun Lake Tribe's government campus as part of the tribe’s broader development strategy, according to a report in Crain's Grand Rapids Business.
"We have a wonderful partner who is aligned in values, culture and strategy," GLI CEO Monica King told Crain's. "The Gun Lake location will be one of the first within our new corridor development undertaking. It also benefits the tribe's overall ecosystem, providing an amenity and driving traffic to other Tribal businesses."
The new restaurants will feature modular buildings designed and constructed by B Cubed Manufacturing, Konczak's company known for building Biggby Coffee drive-thru locations.
"The Hot 'n Now brand has a multi-decade history of providing value to consumers and their families," Konczak said in a statement. "Rather than limiting affordability to a few items, our entire menu will be priced to accommodate a wide range of households and incomes."
GLI, based in Grand Rapids, manages non-gaming investments in real estate and operating companies for the Gun Lake Tribe. The new ownership group plans to maintain Hot 'n Now's popular menu while introducing some updates.
