Plating Hawaiian Bros’ first restaurant in Belton, Missouri, served as a launchpad for the island-themed restaurant concept, said Grant Kreutzer, noting the brand’s novelty in the region helped it make a name for itself before venturing out with a sprawling franchise model.
“The dynamics were right for a good place to start a brand in the middle of the country and then kind of expand outward,” said Kreutzer, senior vice president of franchise development at Hawaiian Bros, noting the fast casual Hawaiian plate lunch concept benefited from little competition when it first opened at 1112 E. North Ave.
Kreutzer joined Hawaiian Bros in 2022 to build its franchise program. Since then, the company has focused on experienced, multi-unit operators who already understand the restaurant business and have the teams and resources to take on multiple locations…