Multi-unit franchisee Mark Justice owes it to chance and circumstance the signing of a development agreement with Fuzzy’s Taco Shop to open 20 restaurants in Nevada.
It was at a Dine Brands event in Washington, D.C., earlier this year that Justice found himself sitting across from Paul Damico, the president of the Fort Worth, Texas-based fast-casual taco concept. The two franchise veterans apparently hit it off, which led to additional conversations and eventually a deal.
“Paul and I started chatting about the restaurant business and then Paul introduced me to Marc Rogers, a very successful Fuzzy’s franchisee in Colorado. That added to my intrigue in the potential for the brand,” Justice said in an email to Franchise Times.
“We weren’t necessarily seeking to add to our portfolio,” but “we knew it would complement our existing portfolio,” he said.
Mark Justice, chief operating officer for Mr. Stax
Justice, the chief operating officer for Mr. Stax, a restaurant management group that owns 65 IHOP locations in eight states and has Wingstop development deals in Massachusetts and Connecticut, becomes the first IHOP franchisee to enter into a franchise agreement with Fuzzy’s since the brand’s acquisition by Dine Brands last year. The multi-concept franchisee said he sees great potential to grow Fuzzy’s in his home state of Nevada.
“Fuzzy’s provides consumers the flexibility of controlling their dining experience, whether that be a fast-casual or full-service experience, all at a very attractive price point,” said Justice, who is eyeing Las Vegas for his first Fuzzy’s location. “Additionally, we love the overall Fuzzy’s DNA.”
With 138 franchise- and corporate-owned locations in 19 states, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop jumped 29 spots this year to land at No. 226 on the Franchise Times Top 400 with $237.9 million in sales in 2022. The brand was founded in 2003 and Dine Brands bought it from NRD Holdings subsidiary Experiential Brands for $80 million late last year.
Paul Damico, president Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
Fuzzy’s declined to comment on the development deal with Justice at this time, citing that it is in a “quiet period with Dine and its franchisees” prior to the company’s third quarter earnings report, set to be released November 1.
“As a Las Vegas resident I feel very excited to bring Fuzzy’s Taco Shop to the community,” Justice said. “The versatility of the concept appeals to guests from young families to third shift workers and everyone in between.”
Based in Pasadena, California, Dine Brands Global, is also the parent company of Applebee’s and IHOP. With the three brands, it has more than 3,500 restaurants across 18 international markets.