Sedona Taphouse is a full-service casual-dining and craft-beer restaurant franchise that blends Southwest-inspired cuisine with an extensive craft-beer and cocktail selection. The brand was founded in 2011 when Dennis Barbaro opened the first Sedona Taphouse in Midlothian, Virginia.

The company is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Sedona Taphouse began offering franchising opportunities in 2014, and its franchise model has supported steady expansion across multiple U.S. markets.

Sedona Taphouse sells handcrafted food such as hand-cut steaks, sustainable seafood, pastas, and from-scratch dishes. It also offers a large rotating selection of craft beers, wines, and specialty cocktails. The concept emphasizes a high-quality dining experience and includes a community-focused charity program that donates proceeds to local organizations.

What differentiates Sedona Taphouse is its “craft-committed” positioning: a curated craft-beer program, scratch-made food, and an atmosphere designed to appeal to a broad audience.

Training

Sedona Taphouse provides an extensive and structured training program to ensure that franchisees and their teams are fully prepared to operate a restaurant according to brand standards:

1. Initial Training Program: Before opening, the Operating Manager and two other managers must complete a six-week (approximately 450 hours) initial training program at Sedona Taphouse’s headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, and an affiliated operating restaurant. This program covers all core aspects of operating a Sedona Taphouse.
2. On-Site Opening Training: The franchisor provides about two weeks (80 hours) of on-site training, supervision, and assistance during the pre-opening and opening phases. Franchisees cover the cost of salaries, travel, and lodging for the training team.
3. Ongoing Refresher Training: If a franchise fails to meet standards or receives negative feedback, the franchisor may require staff to attend remedial or refresher training sessions, either on-site or at a designated location. These sessions may incur fees plus travel and living expenses.
4. Supplemental Training Requests: Franchisees may request additional training, which is provided based on mutual agreement and subject to current fees and travel costs.

Territory Protection

Sedona Taphouse provides franchisees with a defined territory that includes a protected radius around their approved restaurant site. This radius typically ranges from one mile in urban areas to up to five miles in suburban areas.

Within this area, the franchisor agrees not to open or license another Sedona Taphouse location, whether franchised or company-owned, as long as the franchisee remains in good standing.

However, this territorial protection comes with limitations. Franchisees are not allowed to relocate without written consent and may not engage in marketing or sales outside their territory—including through the internet or social media—without prior approval.