Marco’s Pizza inked a five-unit agreement with the father-and-son team of Rodrigo and Enrique Azpurua for Florida. Rodrigo Azpurua, who moved with his family to the United States from Venezuela in 2001, has a background in real estate development with a portfolio including office buildings and hotels.
Rodrigo Azpurua and his son Enrique are developing five Marco’s Pizza units together in Florida.
Enrique Azpurua, meanwhile, recently graduated from Florida International University with a degree in hospitality. With their combined experience, the duo will open the five locations across the Fort Lauderdale market. Founded in 1978, Ohio-based Marco’s Pizza has 1,100 locations in 34 states.
Scooter’s Coffee, a drive-thru coffee concept, signed a five-unit deal with restaurateur Eric Gioia. The owner of a restaurant in Washington, D.C., Gioia resides in Florida and plans to open the five coffee shops in the southeastern region of the state. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Scooter’s Coffee has 650 locations across 28 states.
Auto accessory and window tinting brand Tint World signed a six-unit agreement for the Carolinas. The deal is with existing franchisee trio Shawn McMaster, Jaysen McMaster Forman and Candi Krueger. The franchisee group opened Tint World locations in Fayeteville and Greensboro, North Carolina, earlier this year. The new deal will have them open three units in North Carolina and another three in South Carolina over the next several years. Established in 1982, Tint World has more than 140 locations open.
Emerging brand Smalls Sliders signed a six-unit agreement with franchisee group Purple Square Management Co. The burger slider concept will join Purple Square’s portfolio that already includes brands such as Popeyes, American Family Care and Take 5 Oil Change. The six new locations will be opening across the Atlanta metro area. Smalls Sliders opened its first location in 2019 and has grown to eight units throughout Louisiana.
Food from Smalls Sliders, an emerging brand with a new six-unit agreement for Atlanta.
Glo30, a skincare studio concept, signed a five-unit agreement to expand the brand’s presence in Texas. The deal is with Kasey Redus, who brings franchisee experience as a Primrose Schools owner and is developing the Glo30 concept in Austin. An emerging brand, Glo30 has four corporate locations open.
Noodles & Company signed a pair of agreements to put 24 new units in the development pipeline. One agreement is with restaurateur Syed Ahmad, who signed a 20-unit agreement for the Dallas market. Meanwhile, husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Paven and Navi Sandhu inked a deal to open four locations in northwest Arkansas. Founded in 1995, Noodles & Company has more than 460 restaurants.
Breakfast brand Eggs Up Grill signed a two-unit agreement for the Melbourne, Florida, market. The deal is with Chris Schmidt, a former director of information security for Denny’s who’s entering the franchisee space and plans to have his first restaurant open in early 2024. Founded in 1997, Eggs Up Grill has 67 locations open.
Eggs Up Grill is expanding in the Florida market with a two-unit deal.
Nora Mental Health signed its first multi-unit agreement with experienced franchisees to expand the brand in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. The deal has the father-and-son team of John and Dennis Webb opening 24 units, with an option for seven more. The mental health concept will join the Webbs’ portfolio, which already includes the likes of Marco’s Pizza and Tropical Smoothie. A mental health clinic concept, Nora was founded in 2018.
Perspire Sauna Studio inked several multi-unit deals for markets across Texas. The sauna studio concept signed a three-unit agreement with entrepreneurs Corinne Manetto and Jean Lopez for Houston and another three-unit deal with Brent and Alex McClure for the Dallas metro. The brand signed two more three-unit agreements with Bob and Kerry Stemen, and Melissa and Tom Turner for San Antonio. Established in 2010, Perspire has 42 studios open.