LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As Louisville is digging out from the snow and enduring the cold temperatures, a restaurant known for serving up warmth is making a comeback.

Soupy's, currently located at 3027 Hunsinger Lane, serves 10 homemade soups, salads and sandwiches from a 450-square-foot drive-thru restaurant in Hikes Point. That small brick and mortar restaurant — along with a food truck and a contract providing lunch to two Louisville independent schools in its portfolio — Soupy's generated $1 million in sales last year, our partners at Louisville Business First reported this week. 

"We've got a pretty big footprint in the city, even though I'm in little Hikes Point," Soupy's owner John Lesch told Business First. "We have people that travel quite a bit."

At one point, Soupy's had six locations in Louisville but the business faced hardships, leaving the Hikes Point store its only location. But now, the owner said they're ready for a comeback. 

To help expand the brand, Soupy's hired Buffalo, New York,-based Franchise Development Group LLC, to reach its goal of adding three new locations in Greater Louisville this year. 

In addition, Soupy's, which started in 1994, hopes to expansion to other areas of the state and is looking to franchise. The first time Soupy's tried to franchise, it wasn't an ideal situation, and Lesch said they learned from those mistakes.

Lesch told Business First he's lifted some of the barriers to open a Soupy's franchise in hopes to attract owner-operators. The company has a $35,000 franchise fee, 6% royalty and a 1% charge for cooperative advertising. 

Soupy's is still a family-run restaurant, with Lesch's son, Kyle, managing the Hikes Point store, and his other son, Krew, working as an employee. As Lesch moves the company forward, he plans to keep it all in the family and community. 

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