GoTo Foods Unveils Flagship Streetside Co-Brand Bakery on Michigan Avenue
Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon are brands with lasting appeal, fan favorites since the 1980s for on-the-go snacking. Both have been anchors in shopping malls for generations.
But with a changing retail environment that has seen the closure of malls across the country, owners of quick-service restaurant franchises, or QSRs, are rethinking their strategies for success.
GoTo Foods, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon, has pivoted to streetside formats and co-branding franchises with considerable success, reporting 353 co-brand agreements with an emphasis on street-side locations as of 2024. The momentum continues into 2025.
The company’s latest co-branding, a street-side retail store, just opened on one of Chicago’s premier shopping corridors.
The flagship Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon co-brand bakery opened in early October at 163 N. Michigan Avenue, known as the “Street of Treats.”
The new location is owned by Chicago-area franchise group AMG PretzelBon LLC, led by brothers Ahmad, Mohammad, and Ameen Mansour, and brother-in-law Ghassan Jaber.
“Opening on Michigan Avenue is a dream come true for our family,” said Mohammad Mansour. “For us, it’s not just about pretzels and cinnamon rolls – it’s about creating memories for locals and visitors on one of the city’s busiest and most iconic streets.”
With a portfolio of more than a dozen QSRs across Illinois and Indiana, the family business began in 2014 with a single 200-square-foot popcorn kiosk in a mall. The company steadily expanded, adding franchises that include Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon, as well as Crumbl, Sbarro, Dunkin’, Doc Popcorn, and Dippin’ Dots.
“We started in malls and food courts, so bringing these same brands streetside in Chicago feels like a full-circle moment,” Mansour said.
Streetside Growth Strategy
For Bobby Morena, chief development officer for GoTo Foods, the opening of the co-branded flagship shop is more than just a new storefront. It’s a symbolic evolution of how far the company’s brands have come.
GoTo Foods’ seven iconic food service franchises serve more than 12 million customers annually in 6,000 locations worldwide.
“Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon have been synonymous with the mall experience, but as consumer habits evolve, we’re meeting guests where they are: in vibrant, urban corridors like Chicago’s ‘Street of Treats,’” Morena said.
The Michigan Avenue flagship location is a proof point of GoTo Food’s streetside growth strategy, he added. “This is how we scale our brands for the next generation of consumers and franchisees. We’re setting the stage for the next chapter.”
Double Treats, Double Opportunity
The co-brand bakery combines the strength of multiple iconic brands for a unified purpose.
According to a 2025 Clutch report, 71% of consumers reported they enjoy it when companies offer co-branded products.
For QSRs, co-branding creates variety and convenience for consumers. Guests benefit from expanded menu options, cross-brand pairings and access to multiple favorites under one roof. It also provides opportunities for innovation across the brands.
For franchisees, co-branding optimizes operations, increases traffic and expands profitability, said Moreno. It’s also a way to grow or diversify by adding a proven food-service brand to an existing location.
“Pairing Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon in this format demonstrates how we’re evolving beyond traditional mall roots, building smarter with strong operators and creating high-performing opportunities in markets that matter,” Morena said.
“We’re proving that the co-brand model creates real advantages for both guests and franchisees.”
Having a streetside co-brand location also provides increased visibility and name recognition, added Mansour. “It’s a chance to introduce Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon to new guests and create lasting memories.”
Finding the Sweet Spot
With its strong move to co-branding in franchising, GoTo Foods is redefining the future of QSRs, which is what attracted Mansour and his partners.
“We look for brands that have a proven track record, strong consumer demand and a supportive franchisor relationship. Flexibility is also key,” he said.
“We value the ability to adapt to changing markets and evolve with consumer preferences. That’s exactly what GoTo Foods and its platform company of brands have done. And it’s why we’ve been confident growing with them and building on the family business we’re so proud to lead.”
