I’m not sure if you understand what a franchise is.

It’s not just a building/store. It’s a brand.

If you went and bought that failing burger joint next to Firehouse Subs on Tennessee and Stadium. And paid subway the franchise fee, they would send you all the signage, slicers, bins, stylings, cups, bags veggies meats etc etc and you could own a subway. You get their branding, name recognition etc for a cut of the profits and don’t have to worry about PR, advertising or even quality control. Because everyone knows they can get a 5$ foot long there or at a subway just like in butfuck Indiana.

It’s still not locally owned like OG subs near potbellies, who can do whatever they want, make their own menu, remove shit that doesn’t sell, change supplies for cups bags etc.

Gaines street pies is already a chain. Its a chain of 3 restaurants. They aren’t a franchise. They built their own brand and reputation, they didn’t buy it.

A chain of stores and a franchise isn’t mutually exclusive.

They are three locally owned pizza places owned by the same guy making pretty similar pizzas of the same style.

But the chain is still locally owned.

If they decide to franchise their brand and allow Joe Schmoe to buy a building, then buy whatever oven GSP uses, the same ingredients, boxes, cups, utensils etc in exchange for a % of the profits.

Then they would be a franchise and a chain. They aren’t really big enough for that though. They use largely generic pizza boxes, and local art. They don’t really own a supply chain of ingredients or anything (because there is no need)