With a Proven Success Formula, Big Whiskey’s Is Raising the Bar For Franchise Growth Across the Region

Rapid Expansion Continues: Big Whiskey’s Opens 8 Stores This Year, 3 in 8 Weeks

January 28, 2026, Springfield, MO - Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar is celebrating a landmark year of expansion, opening eight locations in under twelve months—including three in just the last eight weeks. The brand’s rapid growth continues to gain momentum throughout the south and midwest, with more franchise partners joining the family and new locations in development across multiple states. Big Whiskey’s unwavering investment in franchisee success, training, and operational excellence is proving itself again and again, driven by the foundational impact of its industry-leading training program, Big Whiskey’s U.

Big Whiskey’s most recent openings in Owensboro, Kentucky; Rogers, Arkansas; and Hoover, Alabama highlight the brand’s intentional push into high-growth Southern and Midwestern markets. Each launch has delivered strong early performance, with several surpassing internal projections and setting new benchmarks for guest traffic during opening week. These successes underscore both strong consumer demand and the effectiveness of Big Whiskey’s refined pre-opening and training systems. With additional developments underway across Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and northern Texas, the brand remains committed to accelerating expansion throughout the South and Midwest, focusing on communities and franchise partners that align with its long-term growth vision.

Powering Consistent Growth Through Big Whiskey’s U

Earlier this year, Big Whiskey’s announced Big Whiskey’s U, its fully immersive training platform designed to ensure every location opens strong and performs with long-term consistency. That training engine has been central to the brand’s ability to expand at a record pace this year while maintaining the high-quality service and operations guests expect. Each new restaurant opening begins with Big Whiskey’s seasoned new store opening team onsite five weeks before launch to equip new employees with the skills, standards, and confidence by opening week.

Supporting that effort is Big Whiskey’s U’s flexible digital platform, giving every team member access to videos, presentations, and ongoing training modules from their phone or in-store computer. The combination of immersive on-site coaching and engaging online learning ensures employees stay informed, empowered, and connected to the brand’s culture.

Proven People, Proven Process, Proven Growth

What sets Big Whiskey’s U apart is that it was built by leaders who began their careers at Big Whiskey’s—former servers, bartenders, and hosts who understand firsthand what excellence looks like at the store level. Their passion, paired with a proprietary training process, fuels stronger openings, unified operations, and sustainable business momentum. That consistency is a direct contributor to this year’s unprecedented growth.

“Our training program has allowed us to open more stores faster without compromising the guest experience,” said Austin Herschend, CEO of Big Whiskey’s. “Eight new stores in a year and three in just the last eight weeks shows what’s possible when you combine the right franchise partners with the right support system. Big Whiskey’s U has created a scalable formula for success, and that’s helping fuel the incredible growth we’re experiencing across multiple states.”

As Big Whiskey’s continues expanding into new markets, the brand remains committed to the people and processes that have made this growth possible—its franchisees, its store-level teams, its training legends, and the loyal guests who make Big Whiskey’s a place for big moments.

About Big Whiskey’s Franchising

Big Whiskey's is an American Restaurant and Bar located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. It is known for its delicious food, attentive service, and inviting atmosphere. Whether you're celebrating big or small, Big Whiskey's has something for everyone. Stay connected with Big Whiskey’s on Facebook and Instagram and at bigwhiskeys.com. For franchise inquiries, visit www.bigwhiskeysfranchise.com.