The Melting Pot says it is ready to return to Memphis.
"We have been seeking, for quite some time, the right partner to re-enter Memphis. It's a good market and one we believe in," The Melting Pot CEO Bob Johnston said. "We also have a real connection to it."
The restaurant that is known for its interactive dining experiences with sweet and savory tableside fondue pots first had a presence in Memphis when Front Burner Brands opened a franchise at 2828 Wolfcreek Parkway in 2004. That store closed in 2010, but Johnston says the separation had nothing to do with disappointment in the market.
While the restaurant hasn't had a physical presence in the city in almost 15 years, it has made a sustained local philanthropic impact for more than 20 years. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is the restaurant's official charitable partner, and The Melting Pot sends the top fundraisers from its Donate & Dine program to Memphis each year so they can see, firsthand, how their donations are impacting the lives of children and families.
"Ultimately, we selected St. Jude because of our similar values and cultures," Johnston said. "And while the hospital is in Memphis, the work that gets done there benefits people in every market where we operate."
It's a partnership that St. Jude says has a direct effect on the lives of Memphians and the families the hospital supports.
“We are so grateful for more than 20 years of partnership with our friends at Melting Pot,” said Lyles Eddins, Senior Vice President of Relational Advancement for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Melting Pot staff and customers have come together to raise an incredible $18 million to benefit St. Jude families. Because of the leadership of Melting Pot CEO Bob Johnson and support from partners like this, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food so they can focus on helping their child live.”
The Melting Pot was founded in Maitland, Florida, in 1975. Johnston's older brothers were among the company's first franchisees, opening their Tallahassee restaurant in 1979 when he was just 14 years old. He moved to Tampa with his wife, Katina, to open his first franchise seven years later.
"There's something unique about The Melting Pot," said Johnston. "People are not just coming there because they're hungry and they just want a bite to eat. Something else motivates them to choose us."
Johnston says he believes guests are motivated by their mission to help people celebrate life with people they care about. It's a celebration they hope to see return to the Bluff City soon.
"I got into guest services when I was old enough to serve alcohol," Johnston said. "And that's when everything clicked for me. It was like putting on a party every night for each guest."
Anyone interested in partnering with The Melting Pot for its return to Memphis can visit
MeltingPotFranchise.comfor more information.
Ellen Chamberlain is the food and dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. Contact her at
Ellen.Chamberlain@commercialappeal.com.
