Famous Toastery Franchisee Finds Success with Multiple Units

Joe Brenkus isn’t one to stop at the bare minimum. From his past life in the financial management sector to his current post as franchisee at Famous Toastery, he has capitalized on every opportunity that has come his way.

This commitment to excellence has led Brenkus to becoming a multi-unit operator for the better breakfast brand. Brenkus opened his first Famous Toastery unit in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., during the final quarter of 2015. He now has the rights to open five units in the Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Fla., markets. Now all that’s left to do for the ambitious franchisee is develop a game plan.

“What solidified my desire to be part of Famous Toastery was the family-oriented atmosphere the owners have created, along with the focus on service,” Brenkus said. “They care about the brand and, more importantly, the people they partner with.”

This sense of community and confidence in the brand led Brenkus to exploring expansion opportunities in his home base of Jacksonville, Fla. Luckily, his desire for expansion coincided with Famous Toastery’s plans to increase its span across the country.

*“*I decided to become a multi-unit franchisee because Jacksonville is the largest city by population in the state of Florida and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States and in order to serve the needs of all our neighbors multiple units are required. This will allow Famous Toastery to be that neighborhood café around The First Coast where family and friends gather.”

Brenkus is still in the early stages of plotting his official foray into the multi-unit world, but that doesn’t make him any less of a force to be reckoned with in the segment. Accruing experience and refining his management style with his first unit, he is sure that he has the proper building blocks for multi-unit success.

*“*I think the challenges I have faced are not new to any business owner,” Brenkus said. “I’ve learned so much from finding that right location that provides convenience and accessibility for our customers, partnering with the right resource to assist with financing, and recruiting team members focused on service to others.”

“My plans center around creating that neighborhood café where friends and family gather to share good times and relax,” Brenkus said. “It starts with building trust and respect within and between team members and the neighborhoods that allow us to serve them.”

To Brenkus, working at Famous Toastery isn’t just a job—it’s a lifestyle.

“Relationships and being involved in the neighborhoods we serve is critical to building community and being open to other's ideas and suggestion,” he said. “I do not want to grow just to grow or limit myself to a certain number of locations or area. I see the future of the First Coast Famous Toastery operations as a partnership between our neighbors, team members, suppliers, and investors. This partnership and the desire to serve will guide our future.”