The Way of the Samurai
An ex-football pro packs in the profits, Asian-style.
When former Green Bay Packer wide receiver and "Lambeau
Leap" inventor Robert Brooks realized just how much money he
was spending on teriyaki chicken bowls during the off season, he
thought about opening a Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill of his
own. "I was eating there six days each week," says
Brooks, 32, "and the funny thing is that for almost six years,
I never tried anything but the teriyaki chicken bowl."
As of yet, Samurai Sam's is not as ubiquitous as some of the
other Asian fast-food chains, but considering the health-conscious
lunch crowd that pumps nearly $1,500 into Brooks' registers on
a daily basis, and a plan to open at least 10 more locations over
the next few years, Samurai Sam's may soon become a household
name.
Brooks' store is currently serving as a model for future
Samurai Sam's franchises. "Based on customer feedback, the
look and feel of the other Samurai Sam's is going to be
changing," he says, touching on possible franchise-wide
upgrades such as cherrywood furniture and stainless swirl
countertops: simple, clean and modern Asian décor.
"We've found that even though we're 'fast
food,' a lot of our customers like to dine in."
Content Continues Below
To the average spectator, running a restaurant may not seem like
it would bring on as much of an adrenaline rush as a Lambeau Leap
into the arms of Wisconsin cheesehat-wearing fans after scoring a
winning touchdown, but with first-year sales projected to soar past
$350,000, there should be enough cheddar to pump Brooks up.
Contact Source