Amsterdam Falafelshop Feeds Franchise Investors with Munchies for High-Performing Restaurant Concepts

(Franchise Buy) - By . Updated Sep 3, 2013

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Amsterdam Falafelshop Feeds Franchise Investors with Munchies for High-Performing Restaurant Concepts

Top-it-Yourself Falafel Shop with Amsterdam Vibe and Cult Following Kicks Franchising into High Gear; Announces New Financing Program to support Franchise Growth

WASHINGTON – It’s 3 a.m. and you have an insatiable craving. Your stomach is turning and the room begins to spin. You’ve reached your limit and need relief.

Chances are you’ve got an extreme case of munchies after a long night out…OR, if you’re a multi-unit restaurant operator, the instability of your portfolio has overcome you with anxiety and you’re in need of a high-performing concept.

There’s good news for both bar crawlers and restless restaurateurs. Amsterdam Falafelshop, which has turned fresh falafel into an around the clock sensation in Washington D.C.’s famed Adams Morgan neighborhood, has announced a growth strategy that will satisfy the appetites of the tipsy…as well as talented entrepreneurs.

The renowned top-it-yourself falafel shop with a vibe, culture and flavor that commands a global fan base is moving forward with an aggressive U.S. franchise growth plan calling for expansion into select urban centers where the brand can maintain its originality among a diverse collection of consumers. Already, two franchise shops are operating; one in Boston and another in Annapolis. Additionally, there are four more shops in development in the D.C. area and another four in the Boston market. Plus, the brand just inked an agreement to open in Salt Lake City.

“We created a movement in D.C. that reflects our quirkiness, and we’re incredibly excited about extending it to other great American cities,” said Arianne Bennett, CEO of Amsterdam Falafelshop, which she and her husband Scott founded together. “You will not find a restaurant concept with the food and environment that we offer, and that is why we have fans around the world. We’ve done our homework and it is clear that restaurant franchise investors are jonesing for what we’re cooking.”

Launched in 2004, Amsterdam Falafelshop has become the darling of Washington, D.C., consistently topping best-food lists, receiving widespread food-critic acclaim, and winning over the hearts of discerning customers who have made it the No. 1 restaurant in D.C. on Yelp. In addition to serving fresh-made falafel sandwiches and Dutch-style fries [“frieten”], the shops offer nearly two-dozen toppings for patrons to customize their falafel.

Focused franchise growth plans call for expansion into key U.S. areas throughout the Northeast, Eastern Seaboard, Midwest and Southeast. Target markets, aside from the Washington/Baltimore metro area, include Atlanta, the Carolinas, Miami, the New York metro area, Philadelphia, Richmond, and Tampa. Plus, Amsterdam Falafelshop has pinpointed metropolitan areas across the midsection of the nation such as Chicago, Ohio, and major metro markets in Texas. With a newly established relationship with Nexus Retail, a Denver-based retail development company that selected Amsterdam Falafelshop as a growth partner, Amsterdam Falafelshop is in a position to offer franchisees easier access to financing.

Given the strong financing support in place, Amsterdam Falafelshop is targeting multi-unit franchise developers that have experience in restaurant ownership and a desire to break into a fast-growing franchise at the ground level. Similarly, the brand will award franchise opportunities to qualified, transitioning professionals with a desire to be part of a growing franchise system and who are willing to follow the concept’s proven business model. All candidates must embrace the brand’s commitment to community and share the progressive spirit that embodies Amsterdam Falafelshop.

“We’re cultivating a diverse group of franchisees who identify with the Amsterdam Falafelshop experience,” said Richard Sharoff, Executive Vice President of Franchising for Amsterdam Falafelshop and a proven leader in multi-unit foodservice retailing and franchising. “These are self-motivated, savvy professionals who are entrepreneurial and ambitious — they get our concept and the vibe we’re creating and understand the tremendous benefits of believing that what we’ve established can work for them as well.”

Beyond undeniable consumer appeal for the tastiest, crunchiest falafel filled with fresh, whole vegetables served in a hip, urban venue, there are several additional factors drawing franchise investors to Amsterdam Falafelshop. None are more important than the concept’s low overhead and simple operating model. Shops are housed in fewer square feet than typical fast casual brands, saving franchise owners on rent and build-out expenses. Plus, the stores are simple to operate and labor costs can stay relatively low. Also, given that the chickpea is the falafel sandwich’s main ingredient, food costs remain below the average of the competitive fast casual segment, as they are not dependent on the inflationary costs that are troubling to concepts reliant upon proteins such as beef and chicken.

Amsterdam Falafelshop franchise shops are independently owned and operated. Entrepreneurially spirited individuals interested in owning a franchise location need between $365,000 and $493,000 in working capital, which includes the $29,500 franchise fee.

About Amsterdam Falafelshop

Since opening in 2004 in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood, Amsterdam Falafelshop has become an international sensation. The top-it-yourself falafel sandwich and Dutch-style fries shop with a vibe and culture tailored to meeting the taste and atmospheric demands of urbanites nationwide creates an unforgettable, organic experience in every community it enters. Shops retain a feeling of neighborhood independence amid a period of crucial franchise growth. With three locations operating today and multiple units in development, plans call for an exponential increase in franchised sister-shops, adding dozens of Amsterdam Falafelshop franchise locations across urban centers nationwide. For more information about the restaurants, please visit www.Falafelshop.com. To learn about available franchise opportunities, click on the website’s “Franchise Opportunities” tab.