The economy has taken a bite out of franchise guru George Naddaff’s plans to expand his UFood Restaurant Group chain in the Windy City, but he is cooking up an alternate recipe for success through several new airport locations.
UFood, the Newton-based eatery serving better-for-you alternatives to traditional fast-food fare, decided to close its three restaurants in Chicago last week after watching revenue drop steeply in the past several months. Naddaff would not say how far sales fell in the time period, but said the declines began in the fall.
The decision was mutual between UFood and the franchise operator, said Naddaff, who blames what he called “crippling conditions.†UFood opened the three restaurants between July 2008 and January 2009.