The Melting Pot Story – Waiter Takes Over the Business

The first Melting Pot began humbly in Maitland, FL in 1975 with just 3 items on the menu; Swiss cheese fondue, beef fondue, and chocolate fondue for dessert. One enterprising young waiter at the restaurant, Mark Johnson, impressed with the rising success of the establishment, decided he wanted his own version of the popular restaurant. Together with his brothers, Mike and Bob, he managed to gather up enough funds to purchase the rights to his own version that opened in Tallahassee in 1979.

With the support of the immensely successful first location, the Johnston brothers opened their second location in Tampa that next year. Things went so well that the brothers bought out The Melting Pot Brand and formed The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. in 1985. One year later the new company began offering franchises to interested restaurateurs. Today, The Melting Pot has over 133 locations in 36 states with another 33 locations under development.