Charlotte, North Carolina-based The Famous Toastery, a 25-plus unit breakfast, brunch and lunch franchise, has hired Mke Sebazco as president, who aims to double the brand’s footprint over the next two years.
“As someone with a good amount of experience in the food service space, I know a strong, passion-driven franchise concept when I see one,” Sebazco said in a company press release. “Famous Toastery stands out with not only an amazing menu but also a community focus that prioritizes the best of the best in customer service. This all makes for a very exciting franchise opportunity — and it is only getting better. I saw how much the team has been investing in franchisee support, operations and marketing over the past few years, and I knew it would be an honor to come aboard and help usher in a new era of growth for Famous Toastery.”
Sebazco has been involved in the operations and growth of various brands, including Don Pablo’s, Boston Pizza and Texas Land & Cattle. Most recently, he served as the EVP of operations and development at Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the team, and we know our franchisees, team members and customers will all benefit from his in-depth experience in the restaurant industry,” said Famous Toastery and Won Life Brands Managing Director Michael Mabry, who worked with Sebazco at Mooyah but joined Famous Toastery in 2019.
“This is a people business, and we need to have the highest level of people in place to execute our goal,” Mabry said in the release. “We’ve gone all-in on people and process so we can get franchisees the support, help and direction they need as the brand is starting to grow rapidly. We are clearly on track to double in size, but it takes a lot of work and time to open those stores. Having the right people like Mike in place to support franchisees every step of the way is so important for our business moving forward.”
The cost to open a Famous Toastery franchise ranges from $575,500 to $999,500, including a franchise fee starting at $45,000. The chain hopes to have 50 locations open by the end of 2024. Five to seven deals will be in North Carolina, and the rest will be in South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Florida, according to the release.