Mustard CaféTM Franchisee Profiles
If you've visited the Franchisee Qualifications page on this site, you know that becoming a Mustard Café franchisee isn't easy. To learn more about what it takes to achieve success as owner of a Mustard Café franchise, you can read about the experiences and backgrounds of our current franchisees below.
Abdullah Bijanzadeh
With two locations and counting, Abdullah Bijanzadeh currently ranks first in revenues among Mustard Café franchisees. Having spent 25 years with Jack in the Box, Abdul also has the most experience in restaurant operations. Of that quarter-century at Jack in the Box, 16 years were devoted to his duties as Area Manager, with responsibility for more than 10 units.
According to Abdul, the most important qualification for a Mustard Café franchisee is knowing the business. He was attracted to Mustard as a business for the same reasons that many of our prospective franchisees are. Mustard Franchise Corporation capitalizes on a hot new dining concept which emphasizes very high-quality ingredients, all of which adds up to a rapidly growing opportunity with explosive potential.
Abdul is planning to expand his activities across Southern California in the years to come, and his goal is to eventually own seven or eight Mustard Café restaurants.
Abdul's Locations
Irvine |
Newport Coast |
5663 Alton Parkway |
21137 Newport Coast Dr. |
Shiva Saebi
Shiva Saebi started out the way a lot of franchisees do – looking around for a business opportunity, but finding it difficult to find just the right situation. With a love for fine foods, and a background working in an Italian restaurant, Shiva knew she wanted a restaurant business; but after months of analyzing and comparing franchisers, Shiva was very disappointed by the opportunities available.
Shiva hails from Germany, her husband from Italy, so she wanted a menu and ambiance that would be reminiscent of the great cafes that are ubiquitous throughout Europe. Discouragingly, the franchises she investigated were all alike -- the same kind of boring food you can get anywhere, served in the same kind of lackluster atmosphere. Then an uncle's tip led her to Mustard.
Here at Mustard Café restaurants Shiva and her husband found the kind of gourmet deli food they had been craving – the finest Italian espresso and artisan breads, ingredients of uncompromising quality, and a full spectrum of European-style food and beverage choices, ranging from Italian panini sandwiches to French champagne. Even the fixtures and décor were reminiscent of the European café experience.
Shiva and her husband decided it was time to invest. Shiva bought a share of the Newport Coast location, which she co-owns with Abdullah Bijanzadeh. Business has been brisk from the outset, and Shiva has never looked back.
Shiva's Location
Newport Coast |
21137 Newport Coast Dr. |
Tony and Tawna Khamo
Tony Khamo has owned a thriving accounting practice in Santa Ana -- called Financial Solutions Plus -- for 13 years, so he knows all the ins and outs of evaluating a business opportunity. His wife Tawna boasts an extensive background in retail management, so she contributes operational savvy and a flair for dealing with the public. These qualities came together beautifully to mark the introduction of the City of Orange restaurant, which opened its doors to the public on March 22, 2006.
The Khamos were drawn to the Mustard opportunity by a strong belief in the menu, recognizing the popular appeal of its 20 signature sandwiches. They also admire the hands-on relationship they enjoy with the management team at Mustard Franchise Corporation. While the franchise corporation maintains high standards and requirements for owners, Mustard also offers all the behind-the-scenes support a franchisee will need to maximize store revenues.
Although the frenetic activity surrounding their restaurant opening has left little time for revising their business plan, Tawna and Tony do admit to some ambitious goals for the future, including owning additional Mustard locations in their area.
Tony and Tawna's Location
Orange |
190 S. Glassell St., Suite B |
Kassidy and Mo Jung
Bio coming soon
Kassidy and Mo's Location
La Habra |
Coming Soon! |
Banafsheh and Dr. Kamarei, San Diego Area Directors
Bio coming soon
Banafsheh and Dr. Kamarei's Location
San Diego |
Coming soon! |
Ellie Arvand
It would be fair to say that Ellie Arvand has the delicatessen business in her blood. Ellie grew up in New Jersey, where her parents owned and operated multiple bagel/deli shops.
From an early age, Ellie learned the tremendous value that great customer service can bring to a business. "My father and mother taught me that when you care for customers like family, they will want to come back over and over again."
After college, Ellie pursued her career as a dental hygienist in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. For the past eight years, because of her commitment to service and quality of care, this mother of two has been sought after by her loyal patients.
As the owner/operator of a Mustard CaféTM franchise, Ellie is committed to making her restaurant fun and comfortable for customers and employees alike. She has an eye for the little things, a strong attention to the many details she must successfully manage to keep her store at the highest levels of quality, and a penchant for customer service.
"I enjoy giving back to the community, and getting involved when others need help," says Ellie Arvand. "Operating a Mustard CaféTM restaurant in my community provides a great opportunity to do both."
Ellie Arvand's Location
Foothill Ranch |
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41 Auto Centre Drive, Suite 103 |
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