Created the first true fast-casual concept — rotisserie chicken with hearty sides that felt homemade but came fast. Hit critical mass quickly with a franchise model that exploded to over 1,000 stores. The 1993 IPO jumped from $20 to $50 in one day.
Founder Scott Beck deployed a toxic franchise scheme: Boston Market raised investor money, loaned it to area developers who loaned it to franchisees, then booked the interest as profit. No checks and balances. Everyone was incentivized to open stores fast, not profitable ones. By 1996, area developers lost $156M while HQ reported profits.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998. Stock crashed from $41 to worthless. Sold to McDonald's for scraps, then to Sun Capital who bled it dry. Down to 27 stores today. Still technically selling franchises online.
