Well-Established Fish & Chicken DeKalb, IL

Business Overview:

Well-Established Shark’s Fish & Chicken Franchise DeKalb, IL - Adjacent Northern Illinois University!

“Has Successfully Operated Within The DeKalb Market For Over 15 Years”

Fantastic opportunity to acquire a highly visible quick-service restaurant on one of DeKalb’s busiest commercial corridors, serving thousands of students, faculty, staff, visitors and residents year-round. Shark’s is one of the Midwest’s most recognized fish and chicken concepts, with a loyal following throughout Illinois. The menu features whole chicken wings, chicken dinners, catfish fillets, ocean perch, shrimp, Philly steak sandwiches, burgers and signature sides, plus combo platters and family meals, all freshly cooked to order. This broad menu creates multiple revenue streams and repeat visits. Campus demand drives exceptional lunch, dinner and late-night sales across dine-in, carryout and delivery. A high-volume online ordering business and established delivery channels capture heavy off-premise sales. This fully equipped turnkey operation offers an efficient layout built to maximize production and service, with experienced staff and operational systems in place. Ideal for owner-operators, multi-unit franchisees, restaurant groups or investors seeking a recognized brand with a proven track record in a premier university market. Asset sale - all furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) included.

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Property Features and Assets:

Prime retail space at 901 Lucinda Ave Ste H inside Village Commons, a busy retail center near the intersection of Lucinda Ave and N Annie Glidden Rd. It offers excellent visibility, easy access and ample parking on one of the primary commercial routes serving campus. Neighboring tenants include Cast Iron Coffee, Domino’s Pizza, Zahao’s Express, Final Fadez and Graham Crackers Comics, creating complementary traffic. The surrounding trade area includes student housing developments, apartment complexes and established residential neighborhoods, plus local businesses and national retailers that deliver consistent customer traffic throughout the year. Outdoor patio seating adds warm-weather capacity. Operated by 3 full-time employees. Inventory not included in asking price.

SqFt: 2,000
Seating: 20 Inside & 28 Outside
Hrs: Mo-Th 10a-11p, Fri-Sa 10a-12m, Su 11a-10p
Owners Role: Store manager (supervisory) - oversees the operation
Training: 5 days on-site comprehensive training
Lease: Cheap $2,350/mth gross. Expires 12/2028 with two 5-year options

Market Competition and Expansion:

Shark’s Fish & Chicken operates dozens of locations throughout Illinois and multiple states across the Midwest and South, giving buyers a proven fast-casual operating model backed by an established brand rather than an untested independent concept. Affordable comfort food enjoys consistent demand, and the concept’s large demographic appeal spans students, families and workers, helping this location compete for customers well beyond the campus crowd.

Significant growth opportunities remain for a motivated new owner. Expanded loyalty programs, new catering services, increased university partnerships and community outreach initiatives can all build additional sales and customer loyalty. Enhanced digital marketing offers a clear path to drive continued growth of delivery and online ordering revenue. Additional upside exists to further capitalize on the large student population and the ongoing residential growth throughout the DeKalb market, positioning this location for continued expansion under hands-on, growth-focused ownership that is ready to build on a solid foundation.

Reason for Selling:

Too far from the owner’s home. Kindly ask the seller for more information.

Additional Details:

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