Bubbakoo's Burritos to open in Spotswood, NJ
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| Bubbakoo's Burritos is building-out a restaurant in Spotswood's Renaissance Square mall on Main Street, just North of the Post Office. |
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| The shop space was formerly a Subway franchise that closed more than a year ago. |
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| The center's main sign board, along Main Street, already displays a Bubbakoo's sign. |
It came as a bit of a surprise to this reporter that a new Bubbakoo's is opening only about 8 miles from an existing outlet in Monroe Township. But Bubbakoo’s Franchise Systems, LLC, which is located in Wall, New Jersey, could even open more units in-between, according to its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
That's because the territory granted to each franchise in the system and spelled out in the franchise agreement is typically only a two mile radius, unless for instance, the franchised unit is located in a major metropolitan downtown area, according to the FDD.
Moreover, territories are not exclusive.
"We have the right to open and operate Restaurants at Non-Traditional sites within your Designated Territory," reads a 2020 Bubbakoo's FDD. "You will not receive an exclusive territory. You may face competition from other franchisees, from outlets that we own, or from other channels of distribution or competitive brands that we control."
By the end of 2019 the company had a total of 32 outlets, nine were company owned, while 23 were franchised, according to the FDD.
Where were they located? Bubbakoo's opened one franchise in California, one in Georgia, one in New York, one in Pennsylvania and 19 in New Jersey. All nine company owned outlets were in the Garden State.
In 2018 two company owned outlets were sold to franchises, according to the FDD, which said that the following year, three transfers of franchised units to new owners other than the franchisor occurred.
New franchised outlets opened recently in Dumont, New Jersey; Staten Island (Richmond), New York; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Nashville, Tennessee (not reflected in the 2020 FDD, cited in this report). There are now two restaurants on Staten Island.
Reached by phone, Amit Patel, the franchisee who owns the restaurant in Monroe Township declined to comment on the new outlet in Spotswood, saying to contact the franchisor's PR department instead.
This reporter explained he was also a Bubbakoos fan and wanted to chat with him about his franchise, as do those considering their own franchises, to ask about his experience with how much support the company has offered, for instance. But he indicated that the franchisor would have to approve.
While Patel seemed to confirm he was not the individual opening in Spotswood -- NJ Retail News confirmed that the restaurant being built-out in Spotswood is franchised as opposed to company owned. But there are presently more than seven owned and operated by the company -- all located in the Garden State. The unit in Neptune City was reacquired from a franchisee and is now corporate owned.
Bubbakoo's bills itself as a quick casual restaurant serving burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, taco salads and Chiwawas (their proprietary offering, made of deep fried, panko-crusted cheesy rice balls), among sides, desserts and beverages.
The new restaurant's street address in the borough is 428 Main Street.
- Dave Schatz
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