Buona, the family-owned restaurant chain from Chicago, renowned for its Italian beef sandwich, is preparing to bring its signature flavors to St. Louis. The company plans to have a storefront in development in the next 18 months and is currently in discussions with multi-unit operators as it ramps up franchise expansion.
Courtesy of Buona Restaurants and CateringCourtesy of Buona Restaurants and Catering
Tuscan Harvest Salad
Founded in 1981 in Chicago, Buona built its reputation on slow-roasted, Italian seasoned top sirloin beef—a recipe derived from a family uncle who started an Italian beef stand in the early 1950s. Today, the menu features burgers, chicken sandwiches, pasta dishes, tossed salads, and milk shakes, in addition to the iconic sandwich.
Joe Buonavolanto III, executive vice president of The Buona Companies, says the menu is anchored in the original Italian beef sandwich, which is made with high-quality beef, no preservatives, and a rich, house-made gravy.
“We cook our beef the way you would in your home,” Buonavolanto says. “It goes in ovens, the gravy provides a lot of the flavor for the sandwich, and it goes into pans in our restaurants. That’s how we differentiated ourselves amongst other Italian beef restaurants here in Chicago.”
Courtesy of Buona Restaurants and CateringCourtesy of Buona Restaurants and Catering
Courtesy of Buona Restaurants and CateringCourtesy of Buona Restaurants and Catering
Since opening more than 40 years ago, Buona has expanded to 31 company-owned restaurants and 16 franchised units in development. The brand identifies target markets using demographic data, aligning with regions where beef consumption is high and competition for Italian beef is relatively low.
“If we can go to markets where there isn’t enough other Italian beef restaurants, that’s a better situation for us and our franchisees,” Buonavolanto says.
With plans to move into St. Louis, Buona will lead with its franchise program. Buonavolanto says Missouri’s proximity to Chicago means many consumers are already familiar with Italian beef. The first new franchised locations are slated to open later this year in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Dallas, Texas.
“We’re able to truly offer one of the most unique things in restaurant franchises, which is the launch of an Italian beef sandwich across the country,” Buonavolanto says. Franchise information can be found here.
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