Freshii restaurant chain to open location at 1871, seek partnerships
Freshii said it also will look for partnerships.
“We’re there to make money but also to really embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of 1871,” said Freshii CEO Matthew Corrin, who declined to disclose specifics of the lease agreement.
In addition, he said, Freshii expects its 1871 location to serve as a test spot for new technology from the incubator’s startup companies.
“I’d bet you could find half of them that would in some way, shape or form, fit into Freshii,” Corrin said. “In working with some tech companies who share a common mission, we’re saying ‘Let Freshii be your alpha test, your first launch.’”
In 2013, it partnered with consulting firm Kinetic Cafe to form the Toronto-based Fresh Startups accelerator, which works with and invests in food-, fitness- and health-focused companies.
“We’re there to make money but also to really embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of 1871,” said Freshii CEO Matthew Corrin, who declined to disclose specifics of the lease agreement.
In addition, he said, Freshii expects its 1871 location to serve as a test spot for new technology from the incubator’s startup companies.
“I’d bet you could find half of them that would in some way, shape or form, fit into Freshii,” Corrin said. “In working with some tech companies who share a common mission, we’re saying ‘Let Freshii be your alpha test, your first launch.’”
Cheryl V. Jackson is a Chicago-based freelancer.