Zoup! Fresh Soup Company franchisees Eric and Dia Ames will open a second location near Christiana Mall this summer.
It will be the second location for the Ames,” who opened their original location in 2013 at the Midway Plaza Shopping Center at the intersection of Limestone Road and Kirkwood Highway west of Wilmington.
The new restaurant, which is scheduled to open in early summer, 2016,, will be located at 2150 Fashion Center Blvd., Suite 213 in the Christiana Fashion Center, the home of outdoor retailer REI, Container Store and Nordstrom Rack.
“We’re excited to open our second location in Newark,” said Eric Ames, adding that he is looking forward to more the opportunities that will come in one of the state’s top retail areas.
So far, Zoup is the only restaurant on the immediate horizon for the Fashion Center, although published reports have indicated that Ted’s Montana Grill, a casual upscale restaurant co-founded by former cable TV tycoon Ted Turner, is coming to the center.
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Ames said the Midway restaurant ranks in the top 10 in sales within the 80 Zoup restaurants and sees similar prospects for the new location.
Eric Ames, who grew up in Sussex County, worked in the restaurant business in the state’s southernmost county as a teen.
After earning a business degree from Delaware State University, he went to work in the financial services industry in the Route 202 (King of Prussia) area, while living in northern Delaware.
Tired of the commute (his wife also works in the financial services industry in Delaware) Ames looked for an opportunity to put his experience in finance and the restaurant business to work. He chose Zoup!, and opened the first location.
Ames says he entered the business with his “eyes wide open,” knowing the hours and sacrifices that have to be made in launching and maintaining a business.
He knows the expansion will test those skills, but is confident he has the structure in place to keep both restaurants on solid footing. Wife Dia will also be more involved in day-to-day operations
Business at Midway has grown, with repeat customers that include teachers, senior citizens and those working in the healthcare industry. The location also has an active catering business, with soups, salads and sandwiches proving a popular and healthier option at employers.
Zoup! features hundreds of soup recipes with 12 rotating daily varieties, including low-fat, low-cal, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free options, all served with freshly baked bread.
Selections include Chicken Potpie, Lobster Bisque, and Vegetarian Split Pea.
Business for Zoup! is affected by the weather, according to Ames, with sales down by double digits in the summer. However, soup sales have always heated up in the fall.
Ames says he his skills at analyzing business information have proved to be useful in keeping the franchise on track.
“In good times and bad, soup has powerful, intangible qualities that provide comfort and promote a genuine sense of well-being for many people,” said Eric Ersher, founder, and CEO of Zoup! In announcing the new location. “We look forward to growing our brand and feeding the local appetite with the hand-crafted soups we all enjoy, but seldom have the time to make at home.”
