Our Story:
Mustard Franchise Corporation
Everything started with a business plan. Ali Alavian meticulously crafted his, and he was bold and confident enough to think big. Both he and partner Sue Hewes felt certain that the unique menu and concept would prove popular and catch on with the dining public, and that this would be more than a single-location restaurant. The plan included the goal of opening a second location within two years. Things went pretty much precisely as planned. The Irvine location opened on April 4, 2002, and Newport Coast opened almost exactly two years later, in April of 2004.
While it did include discussion of multiple locations, that original business plan never mentioned becoming a successful franchise operation. The expansion plan grew out of discussions with Raman Zoobalan, Ali’s accountant for more than a decade. At the time, Raman owned three locations of another restaurant concept. Based on his experience with franchising models and his knowledge of the rapid revenue growth for the Mustard CaféSM restaurant in Irvine, Raman soon grasped the runaway potential of the Mustard concept and brand. Shortly thereafter, after weighing available options for expansion, Ali and Raman became partners and formed Mustard Franchise Corporation. Then, in November 2004, Newport became the first Mustard Café franchise location. Ali and Sue made a decision to sell the original store in order to focus their energy on corporate expansion and, in September of 2005, Irvine became the second franchise location.
In March 2006, the third franchise location, in the Circle of Orange, opened to a resounding welcome. Two new locations are in the planning stages, and are on track to open during 2006. By the end of 2007, plans call for a total of 10 Mustard Café stores in operation.
Simultaneously with widening its operational base in southern California, Mustard Franchise Corporation is setting the foundation for a thriving nationwide network of franchise stores. Recently, the State of California approved Mustard Franchise Corporation for franchise area directors/ development. Currently, locations have opened only in California, but progress is being made toward the corporate objective of expanding to other states and, ultimately, nationwide.
Throughout the early phases of corporate planning and operation, the value of the Mustard brand and concept has been indisputable. Our enthusiastic customers are validating Mustard’s distinctive menu choices – a combination of high-quality, healthful ingredients and gourmet taste – and keep coming back for more. These factors combined with market demand and potential for growth make Mustard Café a great opportunity for those looking to establish their own business.