Fish already is accustomed to praise being heaped on that delectably gooey landslide of success. National publications such as USA Today and Esquire magazine have spotlighted Melt. Food Network star Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" featured the restaurant. So has the Travel Channel.

In recognizing the budding chain's success, Inc. noted 2016 revenue as $17.6 million — with a three-year growth rate charted at 44%. Melt, founded in 2006, employs nearly 350 workers.

But the honor is just another indicator of the chain's mounting success. On Aug. 21, Melt debuted its 10th location, at 35546 Detroit Road (at the corner of Route 83) in Avon — the third store opened this year by Fish.

And the fourth new property of the year, in Canton, will open in fall. And there is no end in sight for growth, Fish promised.

The 44-year-old Parma native never quite envisioned that kind of trajectory for his business ("comfort food, all dressed up"), he admitted.

"Until 2010, we were pretty content opening one new store each year," Fish said.

The chain was unfolding gradually, starting with the initial location in Lakewood, eventually spawning additional sit-down locations in Cleveland Heights, Independence and Mentor. Scaled-down satellite spinoffs — Melt University (on the campus of Case Western Reserve University), Melt Ballpark (at Progressive Field) and Melt Public Square (at Cafe 200 in downtown Cleveland) — drew a quick-serve clientele.

Columbus-area opportunities beckoned. In 2013, Fish heeded the call to head south and opened the first of two stores in Ohio's capital city — first in the dynamic Short North Arts District, then a spot in the area's Easton shopping mecca.

Last year, it was time for a spot in Akron. Then suddenly, Fish said, offers to expand came rolling in.

"So we decided last year to try opening two locations, but it didn't exactly work out that way," he explained.

Cedar Point came calling "out of the blue, at the end of last year's season. They approached us about opening a full-service location within the park. A chance like that was pretty hard to say 'no' to, so that opened on May 12 of this year," he said of the Sandusky amusement park.

But a Dayton location already was in the works: Melt Bar and Grilled in The Mall at Fairfield Commons in suburban Beavercreek.

All the while, Fish's organization was searching for a property in one of Cleveland's far western suburbs, effectively spanning Northeast Ohio.

"Nothing really excited us that much," Fish said. "Then, around this past February, we were approached to open in a former bar-and-burger concept — the old Bar 145, a college bar kind of feel that just didn't go over very well. And this particular location in Avon was perfect."

"It presented the perfect scenario," he added.

Space for Melt locations typically ranges around 5,000 square feet, plus an outdoor patio area where possible. The Avon space is among the largest so far, with 6,000 square feet.

While all that was going on, work has been underway for new construction of a Canton location on the north side of Belden Village Mall. Fish is eyeballing a November opening for that spot.

Looking toward 2018, Fish said that nothing is set in stone. The recent accelerated growth is giving him and his organization pause to look back, reassess "and make sure the business is functioning properly before we move forward."

"It's possible we'll open something, but it will likely be in the third or fourth quarter — either another new build or a major reno project. Or maybe some place that hasn't come available but yet. Opening a place in Cincinnati would be a logical next step. You never know what opportunities may come to us."

Ohio isn't Melt's last frontier, not by a long shot. Fish is casting his gaze beyond the Buckeye State.

"That's the goal: taking the brand out of state but within driving distance of Cleveland," he said.

Rather than scatter a bunch of one-off Melt locations in several diverse capitals, Fish said, the aim is to choose one region that can support multiple units.

Pittsburgh and Indianapolis hold promise, but his partners are training a careful eye on the Motor City.

"Detroit has the most opportunity for us," Fish said. "Detroit is a huge metro area, and the opportunities are tremendous there. (Cleveland Cavaliers owner) Dan Gilbert has poured millions into Detroit, and the area has a 4 million-plus population.

"The opportunity to put five or six Melt locations throughout the Greater Detroit area is quite strong for us. So I won't say with certainty, but I do know that Detroit is the one (expansion city) that most excites us."

Inc. magazine's nod, Fish said, "puts an exclamation point to all the hard work we've done.

"Does it mean more business for us? Probably not. It doesn't mean much in the culinary world, but to influential money people you NEED those kinds of accolades to be recognized. It's probably going to put more eyeballs on Melt on a national level. Maybe it'll create more leads for us, generate more interest. We're a successful business, heading in the right direction."