Ravi Patel is opening a Tijuana Flats location in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, soon. This new location will be Patel’s first location with the brand. Patel has a background in franchising, having owned and operated Subway® locations for several years. He thought the time was right to expand his portfolio and researched available franchising opportunities. After learning about Tijuana Flats successful franchise business model and connecting with their company values, Patel chose to expand his franchising presence in Tennessee with his first Tijuana Flats location. As an area developer, he has plans to open more locations in the near future.
We talked to Ravi recently and asked him to share why he chose to join the Tijuana Flats family.
“It’s exciting to start my franchising journey with Tijuana Flats,” shared Ravi Patel. “Everyone loves the food because the brand consistently takes their Tex-Mex flavors and hot sauces to the next level with only high-quality ingredients. As a longtime resident in Tennessee, I look forward to creating a Flats nation in my home state and becoming even more involved within my community.”
Why did you decide to join the Tijuana Flats brand?
RP: There are a lot of restaurant concepts to choose from. I did a lot of research and applied what I have learned from running my Subway® locations. For me it came down to choosing the brand that had really flavorful food that I love and a business approach that I can embrace. Tijuana Flats cares about helping its franchise owners succeed, but they also make giving back to the communities we serve a priority as well.
What is the most important way you think corporate will help you grow your business?
RP: My Flats location is in a tourist destination, so I think the advertising support will be hugely beneficial for me. Corporate knows what works and can help me find the best ways to draw guests – like special offer flyers in all nearby businesses and hotels, digital coupons on the app, and social media promotions.
What do you think sets Tijuana Flats apart from the competition?
RP: Without question at the top of my list is our food. It is delicious, and it is the best! And, we have our hot sauce bar that is a guest favorite because it allows even further taste customization. The colorful atmosphere of our restaurant invites our guests to have fun while dining with us. Equally important and unique at Tijuana Flats is our commitment to providing quality customer service that always puts our guests’ needs first.
Where do you see Tijuana Flats going in the future? How will this benefit you?
RP: This is an exciting time to be part of Tijuana Flats. We are taking our incredible success growing our brand throughout Florida and expanding it to other states. I am excited by the opportunity to help grow the brand in Eastern Tennessee. I am confident Tijuana Flats will become a successful national brand and go into international markets in time. As a developer, this growth helps me add locations in my region.
What advice would you give someone who is thinking about investing in Tijuana Flats?
RP: I would definitely encourage anyone looking to invest in a franchise to look into Tijuana Flats. It is a successful brand with a proven system, and it’s poised for massive growth. It’s a rare opportunity to get in early on a brand whose popularity is only increasing.
“We’re excited to have Ravi join the Flats family, opening his first location in Tennessee soon with more to come,” said Eric Taylor, Vice President of Development at Tijuana Flats. “Tennessee is a great new market for us, and we look forward to seeing Ravi’s success as well as continuing to grow our brand’s popularity within the state.”
To learn more about what makes Tijuana Flats a top franchise opportunity and the best Tex-Mex franchise to invest in, request our free e-book.