Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Stirs Up Downers Grove

Powered by strong marketplace demand for healthy dining options, variety and convenience, Zoup! Fresh Soup Company recently opened its first Illinois location in Downers Grove at 2948 Finley Road and looks to feed a hearty base of consumer appetites with five additional Chicagoland locations over the next three years.

Already the hottest soup spot in Detroit and a regional favorite throughout the Midwest and Northeast with 30 restaurants in eight states, Zoup! is opening in Downers Grove as part of an aggressive growth plan to expand its unique concept and menu throughout the northern half of the United States.

“In good times and bad, soup carries powerful and intangible qualities that provide comfort and promote a genuine sense of well-being for many people,” said Eric Ersher, Founder and Managing Partner of Zoup!. “We look forward to feeding the local appetite with one-of-a-kind soup creations consumers love, but wouldn’t make at home.”

Zoup! features hundreds of award-winning  soups with 12 rotating daily varieties, including at least one low-fat, vegetarian, dairy-free and spicy recipe. Using nothing but the finest and natural ingredients and no MSG, Zoup!’s prices range from $6.95 for a bowl of Lobster Bisque to $4.65 for a bowl of Split Pea. Each order is served with a hunk of fresh baked bread. The menu also includes made-to-order salads and sandwiches.

According to Ersher, the emphasis on creating the best soup traces back to his time in the wholesale spice business in Detroit. “I saw that many restaurants were using soup to get rid of leftover chicken and unused vegetables. I began to question consumers, and the consensus was clear: Good soup – really good soup – was hard to find,” he added.

In addition to its unique and diverse menu, Zoup! prides itself in the way the company treats customers and franchise owners. Every detail from the food to the physical restaurant has a specific feel, language and experience that is the result of what they call Zoup!isms, a set of guiding principles that form the basis of Zoup!’s operating philosophy.

“Zoup!isms provide a framework for decision-making and provide a strong brand image,” Ersher explains. “They also dictate the brand’s uncompromisingly high standards, which guarantee the authenticity and quality of every pot, bowl and cup served.” 

The new 2,542 square foot restaurant will employ approximately 17 full- and part-time team members, and features a full service Zoup! for Your Group™ catering program.  Hours of operation for the new restaurant are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Additionally, the new location features free Wi-Fi access.

For more information, please visit www.zoup.com.