SoBol Celebrates Successful Grand Opening in Rochester

The Grand Opening brought big crowds to enjoy music, product giveaways, and plenty of SoBol merchandise. Since the opening, there has been a steady stream of customers enjoying the customizable menu along with great service in a warm, inviting atmosphere created by new owners Rupa and Mehul Patel, who are very excited to bring SoBol to their home in Rochester.

This grand opening will always have special meaning for the couple. “Our grand opening was also our third wedding anniversary,” says Mehul. “This was probably not the most traditional way to spend our anniversary, but we were able to step back and take in all the hard work that went into opening this location. It was a great way to commemorate our special day, looking toward our future.”

A future that Rupa says is based on their leap of faith. “This is our passion project! It was a labor of love for us to open our SoBol location. We have been fans of the product for a long time and enjoyed the bowls and smoothies each time we went to New York to visit family and friends.”

Now, Rupa says she and Mehul are thrilled to see that their home community of Rochester is embracing this. “We knew we had to take this to our home in Rochester because it’s a growing community with lots of families. These bowls and smoothies are great meal options for people of all ages regardless of dietary restrictions and we knew people here would love this.”

Rupa and Mehul are enjoying serving up quality food in a family friendly environment. They are rolling up their sleeves and working hands-on operating their location, which means their family is pitching in to help. “We have a one-year-old child and are growing our family. When we are here working, we have grandparents baby-sitting for us,” says Mehul. “We have received so much support and we are looking at this business ownership as a long-term financial investment for our growing family.”

The couple adds that everything about their entrepreneurial experience has been exciting, although every business goes through a few hiccups says Rupa. “Certainly all businesses are facing hiring challenges right now, and ours is no different. But we’ve found and trained a great team committed to meeting our customers’ needs. We have a great product and a great vibe and the franchise has helped immensely.”

Thanks to the comprehensive training provided by SoBol, Mehul and Rupa felt ready for the challenges they face owning a business. “Training was a game-changer,” says Mehul. “We love this because it’s not cookie-cutter. There’s not a playbook they hand you and say good luck. The franchise is very hands-on, giving lots of guidance, truly making us feel like members of the family.”

“We are growing a family,” says Jason. “We feel incredibly honored to have folks like Rupa and Mehul who want to grow the brand alongside us. We are very excited about the Rochester location.” Mazzarone adds, “I know they will be successful because they align with what we stand for - not just providing a good meal, but making someone’s day!”