National fondue franchise refreshes its Greenville, Columbia locations.

A national chain of fondue restaurants is moving forward with a new brand strategy that means a remodel for its Greenville location.

The Melting Pot at 475 Haywood Road in Greenville, which opened in 1992, is part of the company's plan to remodel another 55 locations this year, including its Columbia restaurant.

Locations that have not been updated since the early 1980s led to the some of the restaurants feeling disjointed, said The Melting Pot Senior Design Manager Deborah Ramos.

"The new remodel will be reflective of how the concept is adapting to better serve customers," she said. "The revived Melting Pot design features a more open, inviting floor plan with an open dining room and a designated, but easily visible, bar area where bartenders can craft the concept's high-level cocktails."

The brand, which has about 100 restaurants currently, plans to expand to 125 within the next three years, said Ramos.

The remodel initiative started in 2016/2017, however, most were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This time has allowed for more extensive consumer studies, meetings with franchisees, and developing concepts that were important to the brand in terms of refreshing them, said Ramos.

"Like many of our locations that have been opened for a while...