Gas Station Owner Expands Business with BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise

Manny Eliades is a self-proclaimed coffee snob. He also works for his family gas station business in Palos Hills, Illinois. So when he and his father-in-law, Nickolas Kontos, wanted to bring a coffee business into the station, Eliades knew BIGGBY® COFFEE was the perfect solution. 

Eliades and his wife had the opportunity to try BIGGBY® COFFEE during a trip to Michigan and instantly became big fans of the franchise. With Illinois only having two locations at the time, Eliades wanted to help build the brand in the state and introduce other people to the product that he fell in love with. By opening his own BIGGBY® COFFEE, the franchisee hopes to provide great service to his community in the Chicago suburbs and create an experience that people can look forward to every day. 

1851 Franchise spoke to Eliades to learn more about his franchise journey with BIGGBY® COFFEE and his plans for the future. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Manny Eliades: After college, I actually started with a high-end retail business. And then, when I got married, I started working with my father-in-law in the gas station business. I've been doing that for about five years now. We saw an opportunity at our gas station location out here in Palos Hills — we needed some coffee [and a] bakery to keep competing with everyone else. Having done some vacationing in Michigan for a little while with my wife, we've become avid fans of BIGGBY® COFFEE and thought, “Why not try and put that into one of our locations?”

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?

Eliades: I didn't know too much about franchising until I got into the gas station business — I didn't really have a perception of it. I just thought that franchising was hard because they take royalty fees and things like that, so I'd never really thought about getting into it. And then, after doing more and more research, I realized they're long lasting businesses. They tend to always innovate either in restaurants or coffee — really, anything nowadays can be a franchise. There’s also a corporate structure and it seems like everything is laid out nicely for all the business owners. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

I picked this brand because it was something new to Illinois. Before we signed, there were only two locations in Illinois. I'm a coffee snob myself, and I actually enjoyed their coffee. My life runs on coffee with my two kids and my wife and running around with everything. I enjoyed the brand — they're all about people and community, and I think that's something that Palos Hills needs.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Within the first year, I want to let the community know that our brand is out there. That would be just my first thing, like with any new business — let everyone know that we're here to stay. As far as long-term growth, I would love it if we could open up a couple more locations. I want to provide great service for our community and create something that people look forward to in the morning and feel welcome in our business.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

My father-in-law has owned the Palos Hills gas station for 15 years now. Like I said, I've recently started managing and taking over with him in partnership, and I hope to continue that for my kids. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Make sure it's something you want to get into and [that you] love the product and the business model. It's a lot of work. Also, make sure you have good relationships with your village or municipality.

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 379 cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida.