On National Grilled Cheese Day, April 12,
Tom+Chee founders Corey Ward and Trew Quackenbush announced to the public that they will be appearing on
ABC’s Shark Tank. The show features entrepreneurs who pitch their ideas to famous and successful business leaders for investment opportunities.
Ward and Quackenbush started Tom+Chee with their wives, Jenny and Jenn, in 2009 when they served grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup to ice skaters at Fountain Square. A year later, they opened their first restaurant on Court Street; they opened a Tom+Chee at
Newport on the Levee in 2011, and one on Walnut Street in 2012. They’ve also recently opened two locations in Louisville—a third is under construction—but they want to expand their brand beyond the Tri-State area.
On the show, Ward and Quackenbush will pitch Tom+Chee to Mark Cuban, media and sports, and owner of the Dallas Mavericks; Barbara Corcoran, real estate; Daymond John, fashion; Kevin O’Leary, educational software; and Robert Herjavec, technology. Their goal is to secure investment and take Tom+Chee global.
Tom+Chee has already been featured in an episode of
Travel Channel’s Man v. Food Nation and two episodes of
Amazing Eats, and its grilled cheese donut was named one of the Best Sandwiches in America by the TODAY show. It was also featured on
CBS’s The Chew.
Look for Ward and Quackenbush on
Shark Tank May 17 at 9 p.m.
By Caitlin Koenig
Follow Caitlin on Twitter
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