Here's your Forbes Daily Briefing for Monday, September 29th.

Today on Forbes, how Smashburger Founders Sports Bar chain is reshaping the game day experience.

With its technologically supercharged ordering system and some speedy servers, Tom's watchbar can get food to your table less than eight minutes

after the ticket is rung up and can bring you a beer in under two. The sports bar chain's

expansion only seems that fast. Since launching with four locations in 2019, Tom's watchbar

has grown to 13 restaurants in 2024 and 16 this year. In mid-September,

that number climbed to 18 as the chain unveiled its plans for its two newest venues in Cincinnati

and Milwaukee. And there are more on the lineup. Tom's is aiming to open two more outlets in 2025

and another 10 to 13 each subsequent year.

Despite a crowded market featuring established chains such as Buffalo Wild Wings,

Bifo Brady's, and Walk-on's Sports Bistro, not to mention scores and scores of local watering

holes, Tom's watchbar has seen its core business revenue rise about 4% over last year,

and its run rate, factoring in the new locations, has soared past $100 million,

with its outlets averaging more than $6 million in sales.

Every store is also profitable, with restaurant-level margins exceeding 25% on average, and all 18 locations

company-owned. That sort of success is notable in a tough segment where the once-mighty Hooters

is looking to rescue itself from bankruptcy, after it filed for Chapter 11 in March and abruptly

closed more than 30 of its roughly 300 locations.

Tom's appeal includes an elevated menu offering lobster tacos and craft beers, and its

dedication to a 360-degree viewing experience on Game Day, cramming each restaurant with more than

100 televisions tuned to multiple sports around the country.

But Tom's strategy isn't just about the sports on its screens. It's also about the athletes

...