Bottom Line
Key takeaway: The Melting Pot is nearing the end of a multiyear makeover, aimed at making the brand more accessible to casual diners.
Core challenge: Staying ahead of changing customer behavior patterns.
What’s next: The Tampa-based chain is looking to add locations in states from Rhode Island to Utah and Florida to Oregon in the coming years.
Secluded, cavernous booths and oh so dim lighting. Dark, moody wood decor and a personal attendant ready to guide you through an hours-long dining experience. For 50 years, these have been some of the hallmarks of an evening at The Melting Pot: the go-to fondue restaurant synonymous with romantic anniversaries, birthday dinners and special occasions.
But in 2026, the Melting Pot is boiling up something new.
The Tampa-based restaurant company announced plans for a Melting Pot Evolution before the pandemic put everything on hold. Now, the makeover is back on, with a system-wide remodel that should be completed this year — the largest-scale remodel since the brand’s launch in 1975.
“It’s more open, it’s lighter, more energy, it’s more bar centric,” says Melting Pot Chief Business Officer Dan Stone. “It’s quite a bit different than probably what you remember when you think of the Melting Pot, but at the same time it’s not unrecognizable either.”
It’s a milestone that brings a multiyear initiative, which cost more than $20 million in interior and exterior renovations, to a close.
It's also a long way from 1975, when the first Melting Pot opened in Maitland, outside Orlando, with three menu items: Swiss cheese fondue, beef fondue and a chocolate fondue dessert.
That scrappy start has now turned into a fondue funnel, with $201 million in revenue in 2024 and nearly 100 franchise locations. The average franchise unit volume in 2024 was $2.16 million, franchise documents show.
The new evolution is the company’s attempt to breathe new life into the Melting Pot experience. Gone are the dimly lit booths. New is the more open-concept seating and a fresher, modern interior centered on a show-stopping bar.
First Call
The makeover seems to be working.
Despite tough economic conditions that saw the industry down in sales and low consumer spending, the Melting Pot celebrated a 2025 that saw not one closure and a record high net promoter score of 64.8 (on a scale of -100 to 100).
Three new franchise restaurants and one corporate location opened across four different states in 2025 — setting a precedent the company hopes to emulate every year moving forward.
The new St. Petersburg location at 699 Central Ave. is already outperforming national averages. The average per-person check is $70.50 — 15.57% higher than the national year-to-date average of $61 per person, according to the National Restaurant Association.
A boost in beverage sales is also key to the evolution. The bar is now front and center, transforming the experience from an hours-long evening to a happy hour drink and casual chocolate fondue. The St. Pete location's alcohol product mix is 23.7% — the highest in the Melting Pot system — well above the National Restaurant Association’s 12.1% average alcohol-to-food mix.
Oh, Canada
As The Melting Pot continues expanding across the country, 2026 also marks a renewed push into Canada.
The company hopes to open locations in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. With 94 franchises currently in operation, leadership sees Canada as a natural fit given the country’s familiarity with fondue and its cool climate.
Stateside, the company is targeting expansion in Las Vegas; South Florida; San Jose; Providence, Rhode Island; Provo, Utah; Greensboro, North Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Houston and The Woodlands in Texas.
The brand is also rolling out a revamped menu nationally this spring. While still centered on its classic four-course fondue meal, new additions include “double dippers” toppings like smoky bacon, everything bagel seasoning, chocolate chip cookie crumbles and pretzel bits — along with vegan-friendly options.
Party Time
Melting Pot will soon unveil a new “celebration menu” designed for large parties. Guests can choose from three tiered options instead of ordering individually, along with bottomless entrée packages.
The company is also expanding into retail with its Melting Pot at Home line, now sold in more than 2,500 grocery stores. The do-it-yourself cheese and chocolate fondue kits are also available online and through Omaha Steaks. Signature fondue bowls and skewers are available for purchase, though they aren’t required to enjoy the at-home experience.
“It's not meant to replace the in-restaurant experience, but it's a way for you to bring fondue and enjoy the Melting Pot when it doesn't make sense for you to be in the restaurant — maybe on Christmas Day,” Stone says.
This year will also see the launch of additional retail products, including the Melting Pot’s house dressing and its “curiyaki sauce” — a blend of the restaurant’s signature teriyaki and curry sauces.
“So we're looking to continue to diversify product offerings to help create brand awareness for the brand and to continue to grow, both in guest traffic, but also in storefronts and customers,” Stone says.
Still, some things won’t change.
“We are an authority on cheese and chocolate fondue,” Stone says. “We do it better than anyone in the U.S. It's our superpower, and it's a big point of differentiation for us. So we do not have plans to try to be all things to all people. That’s not what Melting Pot is, and we like who we are.”
