Five Guys' franchisees founded a grilled-cheese shop — and now it's going national

Hollis Johnson

New York City is considered one of the nation's fast-casual incubators — if a chain can make it there, it can make it anywhere.

And now that grilled-cheese concept Melt Shop has comfortably ensconced itself in Manhattan, it's looking to expand.

The chain's parent company, Aurify Brands, is no stranger to scaling up.

With a massive Five Guys franchise group in New York, Melt Shop has some serious experience behind it.

There are plans to double the chain's location count after netting $22.5 million in Series B funding this past fall; there are already several in the greater New York area, as well as a new store in the Mall of America in Minnesota.

Melt Shop has four locations in Manhattan, so I decided to head over to one to see what the chain is like.

There are four Melt Shops in New York City, one on Long Island, and one upstate — I'm visiting the 26th Street store, dangerously close to our offices.

Most of the shops are cozy affairs — low on space but well organized and clean.

The menu is fairly simple. There are 11 sandwich options ranging from the classic grilled cheese to a packed turkey club, as well as several sides including the traditional tomato soup. Interestingly, the menus differ slightly at some locations, so what you see here may not be all that's available. Not sure if the "artisanal" sobriquet fits, but we'll see.