Crown Restaurant Group, a Cincinnati-based company, has expanded into Columbus, Ohio, its second market. Cofounders Anthony and Haley Sitek, the husband-and-wife duo behind the group, discussed the move on the latest episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches.
The couple has since built a portfolio of six locations in the Queen City. Earlier this year, they planted their flag in Columbus, marking a significant step for a small, corporate-owned business.
The Leap to Columbus
Growing from one restaurant to a second is hard, the founders say. Growing from one city to a second is harder. That challenge is common for emerging brands that have saturated their home markets or want to reach new audiences.
Crown Restaurant Group is navigating that process now. The expansion to Columbus was a step into a new market, and the couple spoke with Sam Oches about how they prepared the group for the move. The conversation covers why growth is often the most sensible evolution for a successful business, and how expansion is as much about employees as it is about revenue.
Employees Before Revenue
The cofounders frame expansion as a people project first. A restaurant group cannot grow into a new city without a team that trusts the process, and that means bringing staff along for the ride.
“Expansion is as much about your employees as it is revenue.” For a small group, losing key people during a move can sink the whole effort.
The couple also note that adaptability is key to thriving as a restaurateur. A playbook that worked in Cincinnati may need adjustment in Columbus, and the pair say they are treating the new market with the same care as their home base.
Community as the Core
Community sits at the center of the Crown Restaurant Group approach. The cofounders describe hospitality as something that should be more memorable than the food itself.
In Columbus, they are working to embed the group in the local scene rather than simply importing a Cincinnati template.
“You should treat expansion markets just like you would your home.” That means showing up for neighborhood events, building relationships with regulars, and earning trust over time.
A Tough Year for Chains
The expansion comes during a difficult period for the broader industry. The Technomic Top 500 report found that chain restaurant sales slowed again in 2025 as consumers cut back on dining.
Not every sector struggled. Coffee, beverages and snacks, along with chicken, thrived during the year. But the overall picture was tough for many operators.
For an independent group like Crown, that backdrop makes measured growth more important. The cofounders are not rushing into multiple new cities at once; they are focusing on doing Columbus well.
Lessons for Other Founders
The Take-Away conversation offers a roadmap for other restaurant owners eyeing a second market. The key takeaways include treating new cities like home, keeping employees close, and staying flexible when plans meet reality.
“Growth might be your most sensible evolution.” For a brand that has saturated its original market, staying put can mean stagnation.
The approach suggests that expansion is not just about opening doors. It is about building a foundation that can support the weight of a bigger operation.
The Columbus Test
Crown Restaurant Group now operates seven restaurants across two Ohio cities. The pair are focused on building a strong presence in the new market.
The hospitality experience, they argue, should leave a lasting impression. That is the standard they are carrying into their second city.
The expansion is a test of whether the Crown model travels beyond Cincinnati.
Key facts box:
– Crown Restaurant Group: seven restaurants total
– Six locations in Cincinnati
– First Columbus, Ohio, expansion: earlier this year
– Cofounders: Anthony and Haley Sitek
– Latest episode: Take-Away with Sam Oches
– Technomic Top 500: chain sales slowed in 2025; coffee, beverages, snacks and chicken thrived
Source: nrn.com
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