Corner Bakery Cafe, a fast-casual restaurant concept known for its ingredient-inspired menu and neighborhood cafe atmosphere, announced its entry into Brooklyn, New York, with the development deal from franchise partner Parikh Network, led by multi-restaurant operator Ashish Parikh. As the operator of more than 78 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchises in the Greater New York City area, Parikh Network plans to open eight neighborhood cafes in the borough of Brooklyn, with plans to open its first cafe in 2015.
“New York boroughs, specifically Brooklyn, have seen an upsurge in food and retail growth over the last several years,” says Gregg Koffler, vice president of franchise sales for Corner Bakery Cafe. “With Ashish’s understanding of the market and experience as a tireless franchise operator, we have no doubt that Corner Bakery Cafe will quickly grow to become the choice for craveable, healthy menu options for Brooklyn residents.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Brooklyn is the most populous of New York’s five boroughs with an estimated 2.6 million residents, making it one of the largest neighborhoods in the state of New York and across the U.S. As a New York resident, Parikh understands the business opportunity that Corner Bakery Cafe provides as a leader in the bakery cafe space.
“While there is so much to love about Corner Bakery Cafe, from the quality of the food to the warmth of the experience, what truly resonates with us is the community feel of the brand,” Parikh says. “Additionally, Corner Bakery Cafe stands out amongst the other players in the bakery cafe category with its operational excellence, best-in-class catering and excellent unit-level economics.”
According to Technomic, bakery cafes continue to lead all menu categories among the top 150 fast-casual chains, with U.S. systemwide sales of $6.7 billion, up more than 9 percent over 2012. With growth in 2014, Corner Bakery Cafe has 55 locations currently in development and franchise development commitments for more than 365 additional cafes. The brand is poised to more than double its national footprint by 2017.
