Say cheese! Meltwich Food Co., a Canadian restaurant specializing in grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers and fries, is opening its fourth U.S. and first Florida location in Gainesville.
The restaurant first opened in Canada in 2015. Barbara Kiss, the Meltwich Food Co. CEO, said they experimented with a bar and grill location two years ago, which became a quick success. The franchise is ready for the expansion opportunity, she added.
“We are extremely excited to open our first bar and grill location in the U.S., right in Gainesville,” Kiss said.
Ryan Hillis, the franchise’s executive vice president, said they’ve always had their eyes on the U.S.
“Canada is a very big country, but it's also a very small country,” Hillis said. “There's really only so many stores you can do here before you start saturating your market.”
The Gainesville location will be the first of three planned in the state so far, with two others expected to open in Orlando.
Gainesville wasn’t supposed to be the first Florida location, but when the right opportunity presented itself, they “jumped,” Hillis said.
“[The team is] all very picky about where we go,” he said. “We’re very grateful that we got [this space].”
Hillis and his team competed with three offers for the spot on West University Avenue. However, he said they were able to convince the landlord Meltwich is the right fit.
While the team got lucky with the space, they faced trouble with permitting, which differs from the franchise’s Canadian locations.
“Coming into a brand new market, navigating some of the different laws and permits was a bit of a challenge,” he said.
Despite the hiccups, Hillis said he’s excited to open right in front of an SEC campus like the University of Florida.
“The menu itself is very conducive to the kids,” he said. “It’s basically kind of comfort food, and the price point hits well.”
Customers can choose from weekday specials like a classic grilled cheese for $4.50 on Tuesdays. On Saturdays, visitors can get unlimited chicken tenders for $1.95 each.
The Gainesville location will serve as one of the franchise’s hybrid models, which works as a bar and grill. Customers will be able to buy beer and wine, start a tab, watch TV and sit down while a server takes their order.
For Canadians, the restaurant can offer a taste of dishes from home with a twist.
Poutine is a “very famous Canadian dish” made up of french fries and cheese curds smothered with gravy, Hillis said.
But if customers don’t see poutine on the menu, they shouldn’t lose their spirit, he said. The item was remarketed for the U.S. menu and called “hot mess fries.”
“It’s something that most American markets haven’t seen before,” he said.
The dish is the top-selling item in Meltwich’s first U.S. location in Texas.
The restaurant aims to open in September and is awaiting permits from the city, county and health department, Hillis said.
Even if things go slower than expected, he said the wait will be worth it.
“The last thing I ever worry about when people come in is the food,” Hillis said. “It’s a very good product. We’re very proud of what we put out.”
Mara Baker, a 23-year-old UF nutrition master’s student, came to Gainesville from Canada. After almost a year in the U.S., she said she’s excited to get a taste of home.
“I don’t think I’ve heard about any [Canadian restaurants] here,” Baker said. “I love [poutine], it’s something that reminds me of being back home. I think it would be very nice to have in Gainesville.”
Meltwich will be located at 1404 W. University Ave., Suite 30, behind Cava.
Victoria Riccobono is a UF journalism junior.
