Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, known for its award-winning, hand-crafted sandwiches, has announced a newly signed franchise agreement that will bring four new locations to the Lone Star State – specifically to the Austin market. The first location, a ghost kitchen facility for pickup and delivery service only, opened on April 26 at 5610 N. IH-35 with the first brick-and-mortar location set to open at 1200 Barbara Jordan Boulevard later this year. A second shop is planned for the Hill Country Galleria and will open in December.
The four-store agreement is spearheaded by restaurant industry veteran, Julian King. Since graduating from Cornell University in 2003, King has gone from working as a Senior Manager at restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory to becoming the Director of Operations for Austin-based Via313 Pizzeria. Now, he has fulfilled his ultimate goal: owning his own restaurant. With the help of his business partner, Warren Shu, King will bring Capriotti’s high-quality, hand-crafted sandwiches to the residents of Austin.
“Warren grew up in Delaware and has enjoyed Capriotti’s extraordinary food since he was a child,” says King. “When the opportunity presented itself to Warren and I to go into business together, it was a no-brainer that Capriotti’s was the right investment for us. A loyalty to the brand coupled with Capriotti’s outstanding corporate support made our decision to open four locations in Austin very simple.”
In search of a concept that would stand out from the typical barbeque-style restaurants Austin is known for, King and Shu quickly realized that there was a pent-up demand for great sandwiches in Austin. “When looking at the big picture, there are immense growth opportunities for Capriotti’s in the Austin market,” adds Shu. “We are excited to bring something unique, quick and convenient but offer the quality of a full-service concept to Austin residents.”
“Bringing in franchise owners like Julian and Warren is a dream-come-true for our brand,” says David Bloom, Capriotti’s Chief Development Officer. “Their passion for our brand and bringing something new and exciting to the market is a recipe for success. We can’t wait to see Capriotti’s win over fans in Austin.”