2 minute read
Franchisees of the Month
Samir El Fassi (left) and Jamal Jabbari are gleeful after their Elk Grove, CA, The Waffle Experience location was recognized in Sacramento News & Review’s “Best of Sacramento” as a first-place brunch restaurant.
How this duo formed a perfect partnership
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Before Jamal Jabbari and Samir EL Fassi went into partnership as The Waffle Experience franchisees, they knew each other through the food business. As food-truck owners, the pair admired each other’s work ethic and business savvy. As they ran into each other at community events throughout the years, they shared best practices and developed a lasting friendship.
Jamal, who still owns his food truck, “Hefty Gyros” with a partner, specialized in Middle Eastern cuisine. Samir’s food truck, “Frenchy’s Waffles,” was inspired by his childhood in France.
Sharing a parking lot with the original The Waffle Experience location, the men watched the restaurant grow from infancy and admired how it gained a cult-like following in such a short time. “They were busy from day one. The concept is so unique. There’s nothing else like it out there. It’s creative food in a fun atmosphere. Everything is fresh. No freezer, no microwave,” says Samir. “When we discovered the owners were offering franchising opportunities, we jumped on it.”
The pair formed a perfect partnership. “We really complement each other when it comes to our different strengths. Samir handles more front-of house roles like greeting customers and managing the wait staff, while I stick to the back-of-house responsibilities, overseeing the kitchen,” says Jamal. “We make sure our partnership is always transparent. We sit down and discuss any decision that has to be made.”
In July, the pair opened in Elk Grove, California, and never looked back. “The hours are perfect. We are out by 4:30 and get to have dinner with our families,” says Samir. “When our doors opened in July, a ton of people came through. We had joined the local chamber of commerce and did some marketing before opening, but the real buzz came from the reputation of the original location. We couldn’t be happier,” says Samir.
For more information, contact, thewaffleexperience.com
