Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Yampa Sandwich Company plans to open new locations in the Salt Lake market.
- This expansion is part of the Colorado-based chain's broader plan to open up to 40 new Southwest locations.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah drew new interest from quick-service and fast-casual restaurant chains like Bobby's Burgers by Bobby Flay, Flower Child and Slice House by Tony Gemignani among others in 2024.
Other chains like Fazoli's and Pita Pit revived interest in the Beehive State with new site plans unveiled during the year, following similar waves made by Shake Shack and Jack in the Box in recent years.
That trend doesn't appear to be fading as 2025 approaches.
Yampa Sandwich Company, a fast-casual sandwich shop based in Denver, last week announced plans to open four to six new locations in the Salt Lake City market. It is part of a larger plan to open as many as 40 new locations across the Southwest.
"Salt Lake City is a market where we have no presence whatsoever, so the opportunity for growth is very high," said Yampa Sandwich Co. co-founder David Pepin, in a statement.
The chain celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Pepin and Peter Boniface — high school friends originally from the New England region — first opened Backcountry Delicatessen in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 1999.
It would eventually become Yampa — a nod to the Yampa River — as it expanded in Colorado, now offering 17 hot or cold sandwich options along with salads, soups and other sides. The chain now operates eight locations in the Centennial State, which means expansion plans would mark the brand's first time branching out to other states.
Last week's announcement wasn't much of a surprise. The Colorado publication Steamboat Pilot & Today reported in July that the company was eying Utah, Arizona and Texas markets as part of initial expansion plans outside of Colorado.
It remains unclear when the chain will officially cross state lines into Utah. Company officials said they're searching for franchisees, but their terms offer a glance at what the new stores would look like.
All of the new Utah locations would be between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet with seating for at least 40 guests. There's a $45,000 franchise fee along with the costs associated with the building location, according to the company.
Yampa's expansion plans show Utah's market continues to attract interest from outside fast-food chains.
