Amsterdam Falafelshop preps for franchising

(Franchise Buy) - By Missy Frederick. Updated Sep 27, 2010

Amsterdam Falafelshop preps for franchising

Date: Monday, September 27, 2010, 12:00am EDT - Last Modified: Friday, September 24, 2010, 1:04pm EDT

Soon, a whole team of folks will be able to “spread the falafel love,” as Arianne Bennett puts it.

The co-owner of Middle Eastern restaurant Amsterdam Falafelshop, a popular haunt of the late-night Adams Morgan crowd, has just finished all the paperwork for the restaurant to become a national franchise. Amsterdam Falafelshop worked with FranPoint Partners over the past year and a half to help make it happen.

“We wanted to make sure we would be a franchiseable entity that makes sense,” Bennett explains.

Amsterdam Falafelshop restaurants, which rely heavily on vegetarian falafel and french fries, will be opened nationwide in sites occupying less than 2,000 square feet.

Like the original at 2425 18th St. NW, the decor will feature eclectic photographs of Amsterdam. The main difference at the franchise sites: Customers can get a salad-esque “falafel bowl” as a sandwich alternative (which appeals to the gluten-free crowd).

Initial estimated costs of Amsterdam Falafelshop franchises range from just under $400,000 to about $650,000, including franchise fees. If an agreement is signed before next March, founding franchisees will see their fees slashed to $12,500.

The company will focus on D.C., Maryland and Virginia before moving ahead nationally, Bennett says. Desired neighborhoods include everywhere from Clarendon to D.C.’s Penn Quarter, but no deals have been signed.