Franchise Interviews 4.0

Rush Bowls Meets with Franchise Interviews

Franchise interview with Rush BowlsWe have a meeting scheduled with Andrew Pudalov, the Founder and CEO of Rush Bowls. Rush Bowls was established in 2004, when Andrew Pudalov decided to depart from New York's fast-paced financial scene to pursue his vision of creating a health-conscious, fast-dining restaurant that would energize people's lives with wholesome ingredients and flavorful recipes. This vision led to the inception of Rush Bowls in Boulder, Colorado, offering meals made from premium fruits, topped with granola and honey, and blended with protein, vitamins, and other nutritious ingredients to provide delicious flavors while encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
Rush Bowls has garnered a devoted following and developed a successful business model through refining menu items, operational processes, vendor relationships, and marketing strategies. Despite receiving numerous franchise inquiries over the years, Andrew remained focused on perfecting the Rush Bowls concept... until now.

Rita's Water and Ice Returns to Franchise Interviews

Franchise Interviews welcomes back Rita'sRita's has fulfilled their promise to return for a second visit! Click the play button to listen to the interview with Mark Mele, the VP of Franchise Development for the Rita's franchise opportunity. 
 

Jim Rudolph of Rita's Meets with Franchise Interviews

If you're a regular listener to our show, you're likely familiar with Don and Marty's admiration for Rita's, both as consumers and from a franchise perspective. We've had the pleasure of featuring Rita's on our show twice. The first instance was with Jim Rudolph, which proved to be truly inspiring. The second time, we had the opportunity to speak with Mark Mele, Rita's VP of Franchising, who was also an exceptional guest. 

Quaker Steak & Lube Meets with Franchise Interviews

Franchise podcast with Quaker Steak and Lube
We are scheduled to meet with Bruce Lane, the Vice President of Operations and Franchise Services at Quaker Steak and Lube. Quaker Steak & Lube® is renowned as one of the most distinctive restaurants in the fun family casual dining category, having thrived as a concept for over four decades. The restaurant's unique motorsports-themed décor, featuring vintage gas station memorabilia, classic cars, motorcycles, and even suspended race cars, along with its irresistible menu offerings and high-energy events, have cultivated a dedicated fan base, often lovingly referred to as The Lube®.
Bruce Lane is a seasoned entrepreneur, with a track record of working with and owning franchises of well-known brands such as McDonald's, Waffle House, and Checkers Drive-In, among others. His extensive experience in various franchise brands, both as a franchisee and in corporate roles, has equipped him with a deep understanding of the franchise industry. 

Pizza Guys Meets withFranchise Interviews

Franchise interview with Pizza Guys
We have a meeting scheduled with Kaitlynn Caster from Pizza Guys. Kaitlynn made the bold decision to leave her college education behind to manage her own Pizza Guys store. Pizza Guys, which started as a single pizza restaurant in 1986, has grown into a prominent player in the pizza industry. Since its inception, Pizza Guys has been dedicated to providing customers with top-quality food, excellent service, and innovative specialty pizza recipes delivered promptly to their doors.
The company continuously enhances its products and services to simplify the ordering process for customers. With over 70 independently owned franchises managed by community members, Pizza Guys owes its success to its committed franchisees, thousands of dedicated team members, and loyal customers.
While the typical franchise owner is a 38-year-old male with a college education, Kaitlynn Caster breaks this mold at just 24 years old. She abandoned her college studies to manage her own Pizza Guys store, leveraging her youth and fresh perspectives to enhance the brand's reach and demonstrate that college isn't the sole path to success.
Kaitlynn's journey with Pizza Guys began when she worked as a shift leader at her father's Pizza Guys location during high school. Dissatisfied with her university experience, she returned to manage her family's Pizza Guys store and became an owner in October 2021. Kaitlynn's success is attributed to her dedication, business acumen, and management style, which align with Pizza Guys' ethos of innovation. Her youth enables her to introduce new products and ideas effectively and relate well to her young staff. With ambitious plans to expand her business, Kaitlynn is a shining example of Pizza Guys' commitment to growth and excellence.
 

The Pie hole Meets with Franchise Interviews

Franchise interview with the Pie Hole
The Pie Hole, a renowned pie and coffee concept based in Los Angeles, has recently announced the launch of its global franchise program. Recognized for its exceptional pies on Conde Nast Traveler's Best Pies in America list, The Pie Hole offers a variety of sweet and savory, homemade pies alongside locally roasted premium coffee in a fast-casual setting designed for community gatherings. We are scheduled to meet with Sean Brennan, the Founder and CEO of The Pie Hole.
When asked about what qualities he looks for in franchisees, Sean emphasized that individuals with a passion for participating in the rich American traditions of pie and coffee would make ideal partners for The Pie Hole.

Persona Neapolitan Pizza Meets with Franchise Interviews

Franchise Interview with Persona Neapolitan pizzaWe are meeting with Glenn Cybulski, World Pizza Champion and Co-Founder of Persona Neapolitan Pizzeria. Persona Pizzeria offers an authentic Neapolitan Pizza that is both delicious and affordable, without the long wait times. The pizza industry, once dominated by delivery and takeout concepts, is now reinventing itself to fit into the fast-casual mold. While many pizzerias are embracing this trend, Persona Neapolitan Pizzeria stands out as the most innovative, offering a create-your-own, handcrafted authentic Neapolitan pizza experience—the only one of its kind in the country, with an Italian-trained Pizzaiolo.
 

Penn Station East Coast Subs Meets with Franchise Interviews

Franchise Interview with Penn Station East Coast SubsToday, Franchise Interviews is scheduled to meet with the Penn Station East Coast Subs franchise. Our discussion will feature Craig Dunaway, the President of Penn Station East Coast Subs. Penn Station is renowned for its fast-casual East Coast-style sub sandwiches, offering a variety of hot and cold subs, along with fresh, hand-cut, made-to-order French fries, hand-squeezed lemonade, and more. Entrepreneur magazine has consistently recognized Penn Station as one of the top Franchise Opportunities in the U.S. 

Paris Baguette Meets with Franchise Interviews

Franchise interview with Paris Baguette
We have a meeting scheduled with Larry Sidoti, Chief Development Officer of Paris Baguette. Paris Baguette is a premier fast-casual baking concept that has gained immense popularity in South Korea, China, Singapore, and Vietnam, with thousands of locations spread throughout these regions.
Despite its strong global presence, Paris Baguette is now aiming to make a significant impact in the All-American bakery-café market in the United States. The brand made its debut in the U.S. in 2005 and began franchising in 2015. With several dozen corporate locations and numerous franchise locations spanning from the West Coast to the East Coast, the company has ambitious plans to open hundreds of additional locations by 2020.
 

Noodles & Company Meets with Franchise Interviews

Franchise Interview with Noodles & CompanyWe are scheduled to meet with John Ramsay, VP of Franchise Sales for Noodles & Company. Since 1995, Noodles & Company has been dedicated to nourishing and inspiring every team member, guest, and community they serve. These core values remain central to their operations. From their menu to their service and overall approach to business, it's their fresh, unexpected, and human perspective that sets them apart, a concept they refer to as Uncommon Goodness.
Noodles & Company franchise locations are integral parts of their communities, giving back in several ways:
Mac & Cheese Trade-Up Events: Noodles & Company hosts Mac & Cheese Trade-Up events where guests donate a box of Mac & Cheese and receive a free bowl of Wisconsin Mac & Cheese. The donated Mac & Cheese boxes are then given to local food banks.
School Fundraising Nights: Noodles & Company locations host school fundraising nights throughout the year, with a portion of sales from the evening going to the schools.
Participation in Local Cultural Events: Noodles & Company franchisees proudly take part in local cultural events, such as those for Black History Month, Pride, and Hispanic Heritage Month, demonstrating their support for the community, team members, and guests.
With over 450 restaurants in 26 states and more than 8,000 team members, Noodles & Company has been recognized as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes for two consecutive years. T