Nisha Patel and Disha Barot are opening three BIGGBY® COFFEE locations in Georgia — and they’re doing it together as a family. Their goal is to create more than just coffee shops. They want to build warm, community-driven spaces that feel like a natural part of the neighborhood.
Each location will employ 25 to 30 people, contributing to the local economy while offering a space where residents, families and students can gather. The team brings diverse experience to the table, including backgrounds in health care, retail and food service. By combining their skills, they’re working to create a consistent, customer-focused experience across all their stores.
The duo also plans to be actively involved in each community they serve. That includes building partnerships with local chambers of commerce, sponsoring high school sports teams and events, and showing up for local causes. Their BIGGBY® COFFEE shops are designed to become local favorites — places where people can start their morning, catch up with friends, or study after school.
This venture is personal. For them, franchising is a way to take everything they’ve learned from years of hard work and build something long-term for their family. With plans to grow beyond one location, they’re focused on bringing steady growth and strong customer service to the communities they serve.
1851 Franchise spoke with Patel and Barot to learn more about their franchising journey with BIGGBY®. Here’s what they had to say:
1851 Franchise: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Disha Barot: I began my professional journey with Dunkin’ when I was in high school, making coffee for everyone in the morning. I liked providing that service — giving people their first cup of coffee before they went to work. That was the beginning for me. I later moved on to other career paths, but when we decided to go into business, this seemed like a good venture. Starting with Dunkin’, providing coffee and service, it felt like a new beginning in the South — bringing a new company to the area. It’s an exciting venture.
Nisha Patel: I came to the U.S. in 2008. When I first arrived, I worked at a gas station, so I have some experience with small retail stores. I worked there for about a year and a half, then I moved to Atlanta and worked in a Quiznos, so I’ve seen different types of work environments where people are coming and going. I understand how retail stores operate.
My husband also works in a retail store, and sometimes I go with him on field visits to different gas stations. I’ve seen how they manage things like coffee and other products, and I thought, why not get into business ourselves?
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Patel: Coming into franchising has a huge advantage — the marketing is already there, and the brand is already known.
BIGGBY® COFFEE may be new to us, but it is a recognized brand. People moving from out West know BIGGBY® COFFEE. Franchising offers clear benefits when it comes to marketing, understanding the organization and getting the support and resources you need as a startup. That’s our take on it.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Barot: When we started exploring franchise options, there were so many, it was hard to pick. But we wanted something that aligned with our personal values.
What stood out about BIGGBY® COFFEE was its people-first culture. It wasn’t just about selling coffee — it was about building relationships with customers, employees, team members and the local community.
BIGGBY® COFFEE made the process feel very supportive from day one, even when we were just potential franchisees. That felt like something we wanted to be a part of as a family. Since we’re starting as a family, having a franchise that shares our values felt like the right fit for long-term success. That was our take on BIGGBY® COFFEE.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Patel: With the business, when you start up, of course it's a struggle. But when you look at the big picture, what we want to achieve is steady growth along with the franchise’s growth. We're definitely looking to expand the brand in the area from one store to many so that it becomes well known. That is our goal.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Barot: We’re an all female team. It’s the true American dream — this is the land of opportunities, and this is an example of that. We’re glad to have this opportunity.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Patel: It's not an easy process, but follow the steps. The brand is there to help — you just have to ask. If you don’t know something, don’t hesitate to reach out. They have resources, and if you get stuck, they can guide you through the process. It can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the business, because there are steps you’ve never encountered before. You’re used to just going to the store and buying things, but there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes when starting a business. That said, it’s doable — and it gives you the opportunity to be an entrepreneur and do something for yourself. I would definitely encourage people to go for it.
About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise
BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 430+ cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.
BIGGBY COFFEE
SPONSORED
Nisha Patel and Disha Barot are using their backgrounds in retail, food service and health care to build a multi-unit BIGGBY® COFFEE business rooted in family and community.
Nisha Patel and Disha Barot are opening three BIGGBY® COFFEE locations in Georgia — and they’re doing it together as a family. Their goal is to create more than just coffee shops. They want to build warm, community-driven spaces that feel like a natural part of the neighborhood.
Each location will employ 25 to 30 people, contributing to the local economy while offering a space where residents, families and students can gather. The team brings diverse experience to the table, including backgrounds in health care, retail and food service. By combining their skills, they’re working to create a consistent, customer-focused experience across all their stores.
The duo also plans to be actively involved in each community they serve. That includes building partnerships with local chambers of commerce, sponsoring high school sports teams and events, and showing up for local causes. Their BIGGBY® COFFEE shops are designed to become local favorites — places where people can start their morning, catch up with friends, or study after school.
This venture is personal. For them, franchising is a way to take everything they’ve learned from years of hard work and build something long-term for their family. With plans to grow beyond one location, they’re focused on bringing steady growth and strong customer service to the communities they serve.
1851 Franchise spoke with Patel and Barot to learn more about their franchising journey with BIGGBY®. Here’s what they had to say:
1851 Franchise: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Disha Barot: I began my professional journey with Dunkin’ when I was in high school, making coffee for everyone in the morning. I liked providing that service — giving people their first cup of coffee before they went to work. That was the beginning for me. I later moved on to other career paths, but when we decided to go into business, this seemed like a good venture. Starting with Dunkin’, providing coffee and service, it felt like a new beginning in the South — bringing a new company to the area. It’s an exciting venture.
Nisha Patel: I came to the U.S. in 2008. When I first arrived, I worked at a gas station, so I have some experience with small retail stores. I worked there for about a year and a half, then I moved to Atlanta and worked in a Quiznos, so I’ve seen different types of work environments where people are coming and going. I understand how retail stores operate.
My husband also works in a retail store, and sometimes I go with him on field visits to different gas stations. I’ve seen how they manage things like coffee and other products, and I thought, why not get into business ourselves?
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Patel: Coming into franchising has a huge advantage — the marketing is already there, and the brand is already known.
BIGGBY® COFFEE may be new to us, but it is a recognized brand. People moving from out West know BIGGBY® COFFEE. Franchising offers clear benefits when it comes to marketing, understanding the organization and getting the support and resources you need as a startup. That’s our take on it.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Barot: When we started exploring franchise options, there were so many, it was hard to pick. But we wanted something that aligned with our personal values.
What stood out about BIGGBY® COFFEE was its people-first culture. It wasn’t just about selling coffee — it was about building relationships with customers, employees, team members and the local community.
BIGGBY® COFFEE made the process feel very supportive from day one, even when we were just potential franchisees. That felt like something we wanted to be a part of as a family. Since we’re starting as a family, having a franchise that shares our values felt like the right fit for long-term success. That was our take on BIGGBY® COFFEE.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Patel: With the business, when you start up, of course it's a struggle. But when you look at the big picture, what we want to achieve is steady growth along with the franchise’s growth. We're definitely looking to expand the brand in the area from one store to many so that it becomes well known. That is our goal.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Barot: We’re an all female team. It’s the true American dream — this is the land of opportunities, and this is an example of that. We’re glad to have this opportunity.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Patel: It's not an easy process, but follow the steps. The brand is there to help — you just have to ask. If you don’t know something, don’t hesitate to reach out. They have resources, and if you get stuck, they can guide you through the process. It can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the business, because there are steps you’ve never encountered before. You’re used to just going to the store and buying things, but there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes when starting a business. That said, it’s doable — and it gives you the opportunity to be an entrepreneur and do something for yourself. I would definitely encourage people to go for it.
About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise
BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 430+ cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.
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