Other Restaurants & Food, Quick Service Restaurants
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Well-Established Shark’s Fish & Chicken Franchise DeKalb, IL - NIU!
DeKalb, DeKalb County, Illinois 60115-2100, United States
Asking Price$79,000
Revenue-
EBITDA-
Cash Flow-
Description
Well-Established Shark’s Fish & Chicken Franchise DeKalb, IL - Adjacent Northern Illinois University!
"Has Successfully Operated Within The DeKalb Market For Over 15 Years"
Fantastic opportunity to acquire a well-established Shark's Fish & Chicken franchise located at 901 Lucinda Ave in DeKalb, IL, directly adjacent to Northern Illinois University (NIU). This highly visible quick-service restaurant benefits from its strategic location on one of DeKalb's busiest commercial corridors, serving thousands of students, faculty, staff, visitors & residents throughout the year.
Shark’s menu features the brand's most popular offerings including whole chicken wings, chicken dinners, catfish fillets, ocean perch, shrimp, Philly steak sandwiches, burgers and signature sides along with combo platters and family meals. Its broad menu appeals to a diverse customer base and generates repeat visits from both students and local residents.
Shark's Fish & Chicken is one of the Midwest's most recognized fish and chicken concepts, known for its extensive menu of freshly prepared seafood, chicken, wings, sandwiches, burgers and signature sides as well as combo platters and family meals. The brand has developed a loyal customer following throughout Illinois and continues to benefit from strong consumer recognition and repeat business.
This established location has successfully operated within the DeKalb market for over 15 years and enjoys a steady stream of dine-in, carryout and delivery customers. The restaurant's proximity to NIU creates exceptional demand from students and campus personnel, particularly during lunch, dinner and late-night operating hours.
Its fully equipped facility offers an efficient operational layout designed to maximize production and service. Customers enjoy online ordering capabilities, quick-service convenience, convenient access and ample parking. The business has established delivery channels and benefits from strong off-premise sales generated by surrounding student housing, apartment communities and residential neighborhoods.
Business Highlights
- Established Shark's Fish & Chicken franchise location
- Recognized regional franchise brand with loyal following
- Proven operating history in the DeKalb market
- Diverse menu with multiple revenue streams
- Freshly-cooked made-to-order food
- Fully equipped turnkey operation
- Experienced staff & operational systems in place
- Established digital ordering & delivery channels
- High-volume online ordering business, carryout & delivery
- Directly adjacent to Northern Illinois University (NIU)
- Strong student, faculty & resident customer base
- Strong late-night sales
Whether you are an owner-operator, multi-unit franchisee, restaurant group or investor seeking an established franchise concept w/a proven track record, Shark's Fish & Chicken in DeKalb represents an outstanding opportunity to acquire a recognized brand in a premier university market.
Asset sale - all furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) included.
Prime retail space in Village Commons, a busy retail center along Lucinda Ave. Boasts excellent visibility, easy access & ample parking.
Along with other popular eating & drinking establishments including Cast Iron Coffee, Domino’s Pizza and Zahao’s Express.
Perfectly situated on one of the primary commercial routes serving Northern Illinois University.
Its surrounding trade area includes student housing developments, apartment complexes and established residential neighborhoods in addition to local businesses and national retailers that provide consistent customer traffic throughout the year.
Feel free to stop by the location as a customer first. This is a HIGHLY confidential listing, DO NOT talk to any owners, employees or patrons. If interested, please email Tim Ryan at [email protected] or call 847-343-1332 for more information. Showings by appointment only outside of business hours.
Real Estate
Rent is $2,350 per month
Building Size: 2000 sq. ft.Business is
Established Franchise
Number of EmployeesFull-Time: 3
Year Established
2011
Reason Selling
Too far from the owner's home.
Facilities & Assets
Owners Role: Store manager (supervisory) - oversees the operation.
Square Feet: 2,000.
Seating: 20 Inside & 28 Outside.
Days/Hrs of Operation: Mo-Th 10a-11p, Fri-Sa 10a-12m, Su 11a-10p.
Value of FF&E: Included In Asking Price.
Value of Inventory: Not Included In Asking Price.
Year Established: 2011 (Current Owner 2025).
Lease Information: Leased space - cheap $2,350/mth gross. Current lease expires Dec 2028 with two 5-year options.
Support & Training
5 days on-site comprehensive training.
Market & Competition
Shark's Fish & Chicken is a well-established Midwest restaurant brand with dozens of locations throughout Illinois and multiple states across the Midwest and South.
Why This Location Works
- Established national/regional brand recognition
- Proven fast-casual operating model
- Menu that performs well across lunch, dinner, late-night and delivery channels
- Strong Northern Illinois University student customer base
- Large demographic appeal spanning students, families and workers
- Consistent demand for their affordable comfort food
- Heavy carryout and delivery business
- Positioned in a busy retail center with complementary neighboring tenants
Growth Opportunities
This franchise location still offers significant growth opportunities through expanded loyalty programs, catering services, increased university partnerships, community outreach initiatives, enhanced digital marketing as well as continued growth of delivery and online ordering sales.
Additional opportunities also exist to further capitalize on the large student population and surrounding residential growth throughout the DeKalb market!
Financing Options
No.
Asking Price$79,000
Learn MoreAfter inquiring the broker will reach out to you to discuss the next steps.