Georgia-based foodservice brand Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks has signed a new five-unit franchise deal in South Carolina, QSR Magazine has reported.

Its franchise programme was launched in November 2023.

The South Carolina franchise will be led by Marc Brown, a personal injury attorney, and Frank Williams III, also known as The Shuler King, a comedian and funeral home owner.

The two entrepreneurs are targeting Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg for their first locations.

Marc Brown was quoted by QSR Magazine as saying: “I consider myself a foodie and have always been interested in the restaurant industry.  I’ve been following Big Dave’s for a few years.  As soon as I heard that Big Dave’s was franchising, I immediately reached out. I knew I wanted to work with this brand.”

Frank Williams III said: “I’m excited to be a part of the Big Dave’s Cheesesteak brand. Derrick and his wife are great people who are building a legacy and creating opportunities for others. They’re exactly what Marc Brown and I stand for.”

Owner Derrick Hayes has been accepting franchise applications for a few months and is on target to sign 100 franchise locations by the end of 2025.

The brand's first deal, announced in the autumn of 2023, involved 10 units in Florida with former PepsiCo president Derek Lewis.

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks has a presence across Georgia, including a spot in the Mercedes Benz Stadium.

It is also preparing to open a new location in Charlotte, North Carolina, in spring 2024.

The brand, which originated as Big Dave’s Water Ice in a gas station in Dunwoody, Georgia, in 2014, has evolved significantly over the years.

A pivotal moment for the brand was an endorsement from fellow Philadelphian Eve, which led to a surge in business.