Denver-based Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill announced today that Texas-based franchisee Blue Jean Food Group will open Garbanzo restaurants in San Antonio and Austin.
Under the agreement, Blue Jean Food has the rights to develop up to 15 of the restaurants. The first location is expected to open in San Antonio late this summer.
“We could not be more thrilled about joining with Blue Jean Food Group to introduce Garbanzo to the San Antonio and Austin markets,” said Bob Bafundo, Garbanzo director of franchise development and operations.
“Blue Jean Food Group is a top-rated operator with tremendous experience and knowledge of the San Antonio and Austin markets, ideal for launching and establishing our fresh, authentic Mediterranean concept in their home state,” he said.
Bafundo said that expanding Garbano beyond Colorado is “a major landmark in the history of Garbanzo.
“This year will be one of many firsts for Garbanzo franchising as we enter new markets, and we look forward to announcing those deals over the next few months,” he added.
The Denver company said that franchising is one of Garbanzo’s key growth strategies meant to build on the success of its 14 company-owned restaurants in Colorado.
The company’s founder, Alon Mor, grew up in the Mediterranean region and has spent 15 years owning and running restaurants.
St. Louis Bread Company/Panera Bread founder Ken Rosenthal is also a co-founder of Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill.
Mor said that joining with a “solid organization such as Blue Jean Food Group furthers our franchising goal of selecting quality operators over quantity in order to strategically grow the Garbanzo brand nationwide.”
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
