Northern Michigan entrepreneur utilizes modular building tech in bid to revive fast-food chain

What’s happening: The business partners reviving a Michigan fast-food chain have utilized modular building practices to deliver an already assembled building to its site in Wayland. The first Hot ‘n Now restaurant to open in decades has been delivered to its site across the street from Gun Lake Casino Resort, employing 21st century modular construction technology to revive a Michigan fast-food chain that peaked in the early 1990s.

What it is: As HNN Holdings, Alpena businessman Jeff Konczak partnered with Grand Rapids’ Gun Lake Investments (GLI) to acquire the Hot ‘n Now brand in 2024. Founded in Kalamazoo in 1984, the hamburger chain grew to more than 100 locations in 1990 before declining sales led to its 2004 bankruptcy. A lone Hot ‘n Now remained in Sturgis when the brand was purchased by Konczak and GLI in 2024.

What’s planned: The Wayland location is the first of two confirmed locations for the revived restaurant chain, with an Alpena location said to begin construction following the Wayland restaurant’s planned opening this October. More locations are being touted by the new owners, though details have yet to be announced.

How they’re doing it: The Hot ‘n Now building was manufactured in the modular method by Konczak’s B Cubed Manufacturing facility in Alpena before being delivered to the Wayland site on Tuesday, Aug. 26. A crane then put the assembled building in place as crews ready the restaurant for kitchen equipment and utility hook-ups. It’s expected that the restaurant will open this October.

What they’re saying: “It’s been an exciting past 48 hours from getting our semi-trucks out of our facility in Alpena and then seeing the sections lifted into place,” says Konczak. “I get to witness a lot of our deliveries and assemblies, but this one has been especially enjoyable.”