David Rutkauskas’ controversial Beautiful Brands franchise system continues to shrink.
The latest closure is the only remaining Rex’s Chicken restaurant, which operated at the same Tulsa location as another defunct Rutkauskas venture: Coney Beach.
According to the Tuesday, July 15, 2014 Tulsa World article Rex’s Chicken closes Tuesday as owners seek new location:
Rex’s Chicken, 11089 S. Memorial Drive, Bixby, is closing Tuesday, and the owners reportedly are seeking a new location.
“Our franchise group, Big Rex, expects to announce within 90 days a new location,” said David Rutkauskas of Rex’s Franchise System/Beautiful Brands International.
The original Rex Chicken, which featured bite-size pieces of fried chicken, was operated by the McFarland family from 1975 to 1999.
Beautiful Brands purchased the brand and chicken recipes in 2007. The franchise group opened the new Rex’s Chicken in June 2010.
“The location has been challenging for a while because of parking, access and ultimately road construction,” Rutkauskas said.
Despite the failure to grow and the closure of its sole surviving location, the Rex’s Chicken website still promotes its franchise program, which requires an investment of $196,000 to $413,000.
Last October, Rutkauskas sold the rights to open Rex’s franchises to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
TULSA — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has purchased the rights to franchise Rex’s Chicken throughout its eight-county jurisdiction.
Under the $150,000 deal, Muscogee Nation Business Enterprise will open Rex’s Chicken locations in its travel plazas and, eventually, its casinos, said Beautiful Brands International, which owns the Rex’s Chicken brand. It’s a unique arrangement between a tribe and an Oklahoma restaurant brand.
We have not heard whether the Muscogee Nation Business Enterprise still plans to develop Rex’s Chicken locations.
Beautiful Brands chains Camille’s Sidewalk Café and Freshberry have also suffered recent closures.
ALSO READ:
FRANCHISE DISCUSSIONS by Company
BEAUTIFUL BRANDS INTERNATIONAL (BBI): Behind the Hype
David Rutkauskas Apologizes, Will Drop Lawsuit
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TAGS: Rex’s Chicken, Rex’s Chicken Tulsa, David Rutkauskas, Beautiful Brands International, BBI, franchises, franchise opportunity, David Rutkauskas franchise complaints, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, unhappy franchisee, franchise failures, Muscogee Nation Business Enterprise
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All you need to know about BBI is that they are an absolute sham and fabrication of a "company". They do no franchising though they claim they do. ZERO support for franchisees.
They have no clue what is going on in their stores because they only care about their monthly percentage coming in. They no longer even have office space anywhere. Cash flow problems anyone...?
Just one more sad story about another restaurant closing under BBI. Sad thing is that if they would just spend the time and do their job and support their stores with a more hands on approach these things could be avoided. Instead, a certain someone would rather spend their time and money purchasing $100k vehicles while their franchises are struggling. Go figure.
Good luck to anyone else dumb enough to franchise with this joke of a "company".