Ex-Con Gary Growden to Franchise Pasta Bars

Gary Growden went to prison for selling investment deals that were, literally, too good to be true.  So what’s the next logical step in his entrepreneurial development? 

Why selling franchises, of course. 

Just a year after his release from federal prison, one of the irons in Gary Growden’ entrepreneurial fire is plans to develop a pasta bar franchise opportunity.

Yes, Gary dreams of once again being behind bars once again… pasta bars this time around.  And while Gary hasn’t disclosed a name for his franchise, may we suggest Ponzi’s Pasta Bar?

According to a story by Dan Browning in the Star-Tribune:

Growden, 59, has reinvented himself many times over the years. He’s been a singer-songwriter, an Amway salesman, the owner of an equipment-leasing company and a finance broker, which led to his 27-month prison sentence in 2007.

Court records show that Growden pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. One related to an investment scheme he ran between 2002 and 2005 in which he promised to invest money in "midterm notes" issued by Couthars, a Luxembourg-based company he ran. The other had to do with his promise to invest money in a collateralized note.

In both cases, Growden admitted to spending the money for his own purposes.

Amway Salesman?  Cloud merchant? Investment schemer? Gary Growden sounds like he has the credentials to be a featured franchisor on UnhappyFranchisee.com!

But for those of you who might be hesitant investing your life savings with an ex-con, don’t worry. 

Gary Growden has given his word.

"I’m not a crook.” Gary Growden promises. “And I am not a con man," he said.

I, for one, am relieved to hear that.  And I’m eagerly awaiting the launch of the Ponzi’s Pasta Bar franchise.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH GARY GROWDEN?  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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TACO DEL MAR: Ex Franchise Owner Blasts Franchisor, Master Developer

Is the Taco Del Mar franchise a great opportunity to gain the support of a franchisor dedicated to franchise owner profitability… or is it an unmitigated disaster?

It depends on whom you ask.

Taco Del Mar: “great franchise partnerships create great successes.”

The Taco Del Mar franchise website states:

“Taco Del Mar believes that great franchise partnerships create great successes. We have built our organization in order to develop positive and profitable relationships with our franchisees… We begin each day focused on franchise profitability… We developed our system to return the highest ROI to the franchisee in the shortest time… We believe in you.”

Taco Del Mar:  A franchise “disaster.”

Former Maryland Taco Del Mar franchise owner Suzanne Todd has a different opinion, calling her experience with the company a “disaster.”

According to a Wall Street Journal story, Todd claims she was recruited as a franchise owner by Master Developer and franchisee Thomas Murphy, who told her Taco Del Mar was the “next Subway.”  She claims Taco Del Mar executives “lured her to join the team by predicting future positive financial returns,” and “‘placed a great deal of pressure” on her to sign a franchise agreement before the prices increased.”

She signed in April 2007, paid a $20,000 franchise fee and opened her Frostburg, MD restaurant in December 2007.

Claims her Master Developer “doomed her… restaurant to failure.”

Todd claims her own Master Developer Murphy doomed her restaurant to failure by his alleged “ineptitude” and non-compliance with the system he was representing:

She blamed Murphy’s “ineptitude” as a master developer, deeming his flagship restaurant a failure that then doomed her own restaurant to failure. Why’s that? Well, Todd said Murphy’s branch had food that “was not up to standard” because it didn’t rely on the chain’s recipes. The branch used supplies from the wrong brands, handing out Cinnabon cups, Subway paper products, and – gasp – Wal-Mart-brand tortilla chips. And customers had even filed health safety complaints regarding food poisoning alleged to have resulted from eating there.

Franchisee Todd contends that the franchisor provided inadequate sources for food and supplies, and poor support especially in advertising.  The Maryland Attorney General’s office accused Taco Del Mar of violating Maryland law with regard to the offer and sale of the franchises.  The state and the franchisor struck a deal in February 2009 that gave Todd the option of rescinding her franchise agreement.  She jumped at the chance and her branch closed that same month.

Taco Del Mar bankruptcy halts arbitration proceeding.

Suzanne Todd initiated an arbitration proceeding against Taco Del Mar for $500,000.  The proceeding was halted, along with all other “creditor actions,” when Taco Del Mar Franchising Corp. sought Chapter 11 protection in January, 2010.

According to the WSJ article, Taco Del Mar blamed its bankruptcy on “ several years of financial losses it experienced on poor expense management, lawsuit expenses and its selection of ‘poor franchisees and poor sites’ for its new restaurants.”

Despite its troubled past, Taco Del Mar and its Master Developers continue to promote the Taco Del Mar franchise opportunity on its franchise website.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  IS TACO DEL MAR A GREAT FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY DESIGNED FOR FRANCHISEE PROFITABILITY?  OR IT A FRANCHISE “DISASTER”?

logo:  Taco Del Mar

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BURGER KING: Is BK Punishing Franchisees With Lawsuits?

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Matthew 12:25

Last November, Burger King’s National Franchise Association, a group that claims to represent more than 80 percent of Burger King’s U.S. franchise owners, sued the parent company, alleging that Burger King Corporation was forcing them to price products below their cost.  (Read:  BURGER KING Franchisees Sue Over $1 Cheeseburgers)

The dispute arose specifically over Burger King’s promotion of $1 cheeseburgers that, franchisees allege, cost owners $1.10 each.  In the bitter dispute, franchisees argue that Burger King does not have the right to set maximum menu prices.  The franchisor alleges it has the right to require participation in mandatory promotions.

This month, Burger King has fired off a number of lawsuits against some of its own franchisees for not complying with a mandatory cash register upgrade by the deadline of December 31, 2009.  Some named in the latest suits are outspoken critics of the franchisor and participants in the $1 Cheeseburger lawsuit.

According to a story on FOX Business, some franchisees claim that Burger King is targeting franchisee dissenters to punish them and send a message.  From the Fox story:

“This is about getting even because we did not roll over on the dollar double cheeseburger,” said one franchisee named in a suit who declined to be named for fear of further retaliation. “This is about showing who the big boss is.”

Is Burger King Out to Crush Franchisee Dissent?

Critics of the franchisor point out that the POS (point-of-sale) lawsuits are “particularly confrontational.”  Lawsuits of this kind are usually preceded by default notices issued by the franchisor that give the franchisees a time period (usually 30 days) to “cure” the default  before further legal remedies are sought.  With slumping sales and the country in a recession,  it seems a bit harsh for Burger King Corporation to go right to litigation over a required investment of $18,000 and $35,000 per store.  That certainly indicates that retaliation may be a motive for the hard line the franchisor is taking.

Burger King Corporation does not exactly have an pristine reputation when it comes to handling dissent.  Remember a couple of years ago when BK marketing and PR execs were exposed for planting spies and leaving slanderous shill comments against leaders of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers because they were demanding fair pay for tomato workers?  In an embarrassing incident, it was revealed that a Burger King VP had been using his young daughter’s AOL account to slander the group’s leaders in online forums, as I recall.  That revelation, and another involving BK infiltration into the non-profit group in order to undermine their protest, ended with Burger King publicly giving in to the non-profit groups demands – and the resignation of the VP.

Or are Uncooperative Franchisees to Hurting Themselves?

On the other hand… Burger King and its supporters contend that uncooperative franchise owners are undermining the franchisor’s efforts to upgrade and improve both the BK marketing program and store sales.  According to the Fox article,

The new system would let the company cull real-time sales data to help with marketing and pricing actions, a capability that has left Burger King at a disadvantage to chief rival McDonald’s Corp. and other restaurant chains. At stores that have already installed the new platforms, Burger King says the new platform has also helped schedule employee hours more efficiently, keep track of inventory and reduce theft.

So why would franchisees – who profess to be deeply concerned about managing costs and tracking profitability – drag their feet in adding tools their competitors already have?

Burger King also contends that franchisees are undermining the brand and hurting themselves with the $1 Cheeseburger lawsuit.  The $1 Cheeseburger, BK contends, is a loss leader item designed to drive traffic & raise customer counts.

Once the $1 Cheeseburger deal brings customers is in the door, they contend, the franchisee can upsell them higher margin products like soda and fries.  Unless, of course, the franchisee is too preoccupied suing its franchisor.

Can the Burger King-dom Become a Democracy? Should it?

Franchisees claim that Burger King Corporation is more concerned with putting on a show for Wall Street, and driving up its stock price, than the profitability of the franchisees whose investments built the chain and fund its massive advertising budget.  They are sending a message that they are not afraid to break ranks and go public with their unhappiness if the franchisor refuses to respect their concerns (they twice voted against the $1 Cheeseburger promotion).

Burger King Corporation, on the other hand, seemingly is trying to send a message to both its franchisees and investors that it will maintain a strong leadership role and do what it believes is necessary to compete in the marketplace.  The King-dom is not a democracy, so it seems, and franchisee refusal to make the changes necessary to effectively compete will not be tolerated.

Burger King seems to be engaged in a classic franchisee/franchisor stand-off that, if not resolved soon, could be threaten the investments of all involved.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

McDONALD’S: What Franchisees Make on a $1 Burger

Question:  Can McDonald’s franchise owners really make money on a dollar-menu hamburger?

Answer:  A little.  But they’ve got to make it up on higher profit items – like fries and soda – if they want to stay in business.

SmartMoney.com surveyed franchisees from different franchise chains regarding the cost to them of some current and recent promotions. The Smart Money article points out that franchisees generally bear the brunt of a promotions’s cost, including the food, labor, rent and utilities, among other things.

Here’s the Smart Money finding for the McDonald’s $1 burger on their dollar menu, which report a $.06 profit per sandwich:

McDonald’s

Promotion: Dollar Menu – McDonald’s customers may purchase a number of items, including French fries, an ice cream sundae, a four-piece chicken nuggets and a double cheeseburger for a dollar each.

Pre-promotion price: $1.50 (double cheeseburger)

Promotion Price: $1

Bottom line for restaurant: Profit of roughly 6 cents a burger

The McDonald’s Dollar Menu may be the best value in town, but some franchisees find the six-year-old promotion hard to stomach. While food and packaging costs just 45 cents for a double cheese burger, franchisees also have to pay for rent, labor and utilities. In total, a promotional price of just $1 leaves store operators with a measly 6 cents of profit, according to a franchisee in Florida. Of course the markup on fountain drinks and French fries is typically pretty high. However, many consumers these days are forgoing such add-ons. McDonald’s did not immediately return phone calls and emails seeking comment.

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WHAT DO YOU THINK OF McDONALD’S VALUE MENU PROMOTIONS?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

PAT O’BRIEN’S: Year-old Destin Franchise Closes

Just after celebrating its one-year anniversary, the Pat O’Brien’s franchise in Destin, Fla., has closed for good.

According to a story in New Orleans City Business, the Pat O’Brien’s franchise in Memphis closed just a year earlier. 

Shelly Waguespack, vice president of the New Orleans-based bar and restaurant concept, was quoted as saying that Pat O’Brien’s three other franchises in San Antonio; Cancun, Mexico; and Orlando, Fla., “all remain stable.”

According to the NOCB:  “The Destin franchise opened in October 2008, Waguespack said, just as the national recession began to escalate. Additionally, the franchise owner had difficulty securing a permanent partner, which contributed to its opening being delayed by several months, Waguespack said.

“In Memphis, the principal franchise owner died, and there were problems with the estate.

“The Destin franchise was part of a new development overlooking the Destin harbor that Waguespack said is an ideal location, with other New Orleans-themed concepts such as Commander’s Palace nearby.

“But there are no plans to reopen in Destin, chiefly because Pat O’Brien’s does not aggressively pursue new openings. “

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE PAT O’BRIEN’S FRANCHISE?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

FRESH CITY: North Andover Franchise Closes

The North Andover, MA Fresh City franchise location has closed after four years.

Fresh City co-owner Larry Reinstein blamed the difficult economy on the closure, but said the rest of the area Fresh City locations were doing fine.

Comments left on the local news story indicated that a reputation for health code violations and lack of cleanliness my have been a factor in the restaurant’s demise. 

According to the story in the Eagle Tribune:

 

         The Fresh City chain closed its Turnpike Street restaurant yesterday after four years of serving burritos, stir frys, salads and sandwiches.

Fresh City co-owner Larry Reinstein said the North Andover franchise, located in the Eaglewood Shops mall, was a casualty of the difficult economy. He would not say when the decision was made to close the restaurant.

"We thank our many guests for their patronage," Reinstein said yesterday. "We appreciate it, but it became an unprofitable location."

* * * * *

Fresh City opened in the Eaglewood Shops in November 2005.

It was business as usual there on Thursday. But by yesterday afternoon, workers were removing tables, chairs and counters and the sign on the building had been taken down.

Reinstein, the president of Needham-based Fresh Concepts LLC, said there are 17 other Fresh City restaurants in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Virginia.

"All other locations are doing just fine," he said.

Reinstein said he did not know how many Fresh City employees worked out of North Andover or when they were told about the plan to close the location.

"We’re trying to take care of as many employees as we can at other locations," said Reinstein. "Within reason, we’re going to try to transfer as many as we can."

Reader comments posted on the article were critical of the cleanliness of the North Andover Fresh City franchise:

It wasn’t the food; it was the way they disinfected the trays…still pretty gross.

this just in fresh city not very fresh. Ecoli salds and salmanila burrittos were the down fall of this joint

They were shut down multiple times by the board of health why exactly were they allowed to reopen at all?

I think the reason Fresh City failed is because, a couple of years ago the board of health closed them down for a few days because the restaurant was not clean – I know that’s why I never went back. I am usually a 3 strikes kinda gal…but not when it comes to cleanliness and where I eat.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH FRESH CITY?  WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

CEREALITY: Do Some Franchisees DESERVE Unhappiness?

I love this.  This is genius. said Donny Deutsch, host of CNBC’s “The Big Idea”

The latest fast-food concept is so simple… how can it fail?  said Jerry Shriver of USA Today

…the silliest, most self-indulgently bad idea to have ever graced the Franchise Graveyard… Even college kids who’ve spent the last five years in a haze of beer, smoke and liberal arts could see what a truly stupid idea Cereality is. said Sean Kelly, author of FranchisePick.com

Cereality franchise owner Laila Fields went with the first two experts in this one. 

According to the San Jose Mercury News,

Laila Valdez Fields is so sure her quirky new cereal cafe will be a hit, she bet the house on it.  Literally.  A real estate agent, she persuaded her husband, a chiropractor, to sell their home to invest in the restaurant business.

FranchisePick.com, which has warned potential franchisees about the unviability of the Cereality concept, started a Cereality Franchise Dead Pool to bet on how quickly Fields would close… and lose her and her husband’s life savings.  The winner was Rob, who bet six months.

Cereality: Doomed idea sold to a clueless franchisee by an unscrupulous franchisor?

FranchisePick.com has steadily reported on the closings of Cereality cafe franchises and company stores since mid-2007.  The Evanston, IL Cereality flagship closed in less than 6 months.  A South Carolina franchise beat that with a record-setting failure in less than 3-months.  From locations on the PA Turnpike to JFK and Newark Airports to college locations at Penn State, University of Pennsylvania and Arizona to the Chicago Loop, every stand-alone Cereality location has failed and closed prematurely.

Yet multi-concept franchisor Kahala Cold Stone (also the franchisor of Cold Stone Creamery and others) seemingly had no problem collecting a franchise fee from Laila Valdez Fields and encouraging her to gamble her future on a losing bet.

And some franchise broker or sales person had no problem collecting a commission on what they must have known was going to be a tragic outcome for Fields.

And yet, can you really feel sorry for this franchisee?  Was it laziness that kept her from finding out about these earlier failures?  Was it self-delusion, or arrogance, that made her sure she would succeed where others (including the franchisor) had repeatedly failed?

Let’s face it, in the capitalist society of America, franchisors have the freedom to sell doomed, ill-conceived franchise concepts.

Clueless franchisees like Laila Valdez Fields have the freedom to buy them.

When you consider that bad decisions like this are often backed by taxpayer-funded SBA loans, it’s tough to have sympathy for either side.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Photo credit:  More Madonna, Less Jesus blog.  Used by permission