Yes, Tom & Chee is still in business, though considerably smaller than at its post-show peak. The grilled cheese restaurant chain grew too fast after its 2013 Shark Tank appearance and needed new ownership to stabilize.
What happened on Shark Tank
Tom & Chee appeared on Season 4 in 2013 and became one of the more talked-about up-and-coming restaurant chains in the country on the strength of its grilled-cheese-and-tomato-soup concept.
Why rapid growth became a problem
By 2014, the company acknowledged it had expanded too rapidly, leading to layoffs and reliance on borrowed money to stay afloat. In the fall of 2017, Tom & Chee was acquired by GSR Brands, an established franchise operator with more than 50 years of experience helping restaurant concepts scale sustainably.
What the company looks like now
Under GSR, Tom & Chee shrank its store footprints, streamlined its menu toward melts, soups, and salads, and reworked operations to reduce costs. As of June 2024, the chain operated 7 locations, a much smaller but reportedly more stable footprint than its rapid-growth era.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tom & Chee still run by its original founders?
No, the company was acquired by GSR Brands in 2017 after struggling with overly rapid expansion.
How many Tom & Chee locations are there now?
About 7 locations as of June 2024.
Why did Tom & Chee need new ownership?
It expanded too quickly after Shark Tank, leading to layoffs and financial strain before GSR Brands acquired and stabilized it.
For more Shark Tank updates, see Talmyn’s Business Case Studies desk.
