Concept:

Last night my wife and I had dinner at a pizza joint. The décor gave no evidence of high end design firm involvement or European style lighting so prevalent in the Starbucks, Panera’s and California Pizza Kitchen. Bert’s Place is the antithesis of a slick national brand concept. The food was fantastic and the owners very personable. Is the pendulum ready to swing back away from the franchise outfits to the single unit operator?

There is dearth of unique quality single unit concepts. Many who applauded the fact that there is a Starbucks on every corner, a known quantity, bemoan the personal touch of the local coffee shop or local pizza place.

Getting to one hundred units should not be the prime ingredient in the decision making process of which concept to fund or pursue.