Corner Bakery Cafe 2025 press photo.
Two years after filing for bankruptcy, the 34-year-old cafe chain Corner Bakery Cafe recently completed renovations of seven stores while opening new company-operated and franchise locations.
The expansion and rebuilding of the Corner Bakery Cafe brand has been self-funded by Dallas-based SSCP, the owner of the CiCi’s pizza chain and a prominent Applebee’s and Sonic franchisee with scores of combined locations.
SSCP acquired Chicago-born Corner Bakery Cafe for $15 million in 2023 after the previous owner, Pandya Restaurant Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections. Corner Bakery Cafe had 138 United States locations at the time, down from approximately 170 at the end of 2021.
In an announcement this week, SSCP said it has invested $6.2 million in existing Corner Bakery store renovations in California and Pennsylvania, with new seating, flooring, paint, decor, beverage counters, awnings, patio furniture and self-order kiosks.
Said Corner Bakery CEO Chris Dharod, “We want our communities to know that we’re here to stay, and our loyal guests deserve cafes that look and feel special.”
Corner Bakery Cafe 2025 press photo.
In addition to the remodels, Corner Bakery has opened several high-profile new company-owned stores, including at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., Accenture Tower at Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago and Union Station in Chicago.
The company said it is also expanding through franchising, with new locations courtesy of franchisee Bakery Ventures in El Paso, Texas, which owns six Corner Bakery locations.
Corner Bakery Cafe was established with a single location in downtown Chicago in 1991 by one of the city’s largest restaurant groups, Lettuce Entertain You. It was sold to multinational hospitality firm Brinker in 2005 before experiencing several more sales and acquisitions.
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