Sophie's Cuban Cuisine Franchising, Inc. announced today that they will be offering franchises for their popular downtown lunch concept in the fall/winter of 2006.
Sofia Luna, co-founder and President, said that the first franchises would be granted to qualified candidates in New York City so that their restaurants would have the benefit of the strong brand equity in New York as well as close hands-on guidance. She is confident that the Sophie's concept will soon appeal to people in high traffic locations across the country. Sofia says that franchisees will be selected carefully so that the chain will always retain its family feel.
Sophie's Cuban Cuisine restaurants have been delighting hungry lunchtime crowds since 1998 when the Luna family opened their first restaurant in Lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center. That one proved so busy that they quickly opened another, larger one nearby and the young restaurant chain began to grow. They had four thriving restaurants when 9/11 took the first two away, but it didn't take them long to build back to four with more on the drawing board.
Sofia's family, her Mother Manuela, her sisters Ines and Patricia, and her brother Julio, all came to New York from their native Peru to pursue opportunity. They worked hard at food stands in the parks of New York to save money to open that first full sit-down Sophie's lunch restaurant with the help of a professional Cuban chef, Eduardo Morgado.
Sophie's features the best of the leading current restaurant trends in one restaurant - tasty 'comfort food' with a Cuban neighborhood feel; freshly made, healthy foods; a fast cafeteria-style line where guests see what they will be eating; and superior customer service where everyone is treated like a friend or neighbor. Take out and delivery orders represent a large portion of overall sales.
The restaurants offer freshly made, savory, authentic Cuban specialties such as Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef Stew), Camarón al Ajillo (Shrimps In Garlic Sauce), Maduros (Fried Sweet Plantains), Papa Rellena (Mashed Potatoes Stuffed With Ground Beef Stew), Ox Tail Stew, plenty of Arroz con frijoles (Rice and beans), and of course, traditional Cuban Sandwiches. The main courses include pork, beef, chicken, goat, turkey, ham, steak, shrimp, and fish with a variety of special sauces. There are also daily menu specials - something for everyone.
Sofia is building a strong team with seasoned executives from franchised food service companies. Cesar Lancis has been refining the operations systems and Jim McKenna is heading up the franchise development effort. Both executives have had stellar careers with some of the biggest names in franchising.
Luna estimates that initial development costs for a Sophie's in New York City range from $365,000 to $611,000 (including the Initial Franchise Fee and excluding real property) depending on factors such as the size and shape of the space and whether it had previously been used as a restaurant.
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