Cop to Customer to Franchisee: How La Rosa Chicken & Grill Helped Loyal Customer Launch His Own Business

Phil Rega has been a regular patron at La Rosa Chicken & Grill for over a decade. The former police officer was first introduced to the brand through his cousin, who is a part of the brand’s original ownership team. So when that team behind La Rosa decided to expand through franchising, Rega knew that he wanted to get in on the ground floor of the brand’s growth.

Founded in 1994, La Rosa Chicken & Grill offers a well-balanced menu with complete meal options at lunch and at dinner. The franchise sells heartier chicken tenders, wings and fries, but it also sells rotisseries, steamed vegetables and salads. Its commitment to quality ensures that every meal La Rosa serves is both nutritious and delicious, providing consumers with the ability to enjoy homemade styled food for an affordable price.

“I’m looking forward to introducing even more people to the La Rosa brand,” said Rega. “The brand’s corporate team has been incredible throughout the entire franchising process. They’ve been there to guide me every step of the way. That’s why I’m already planning to open up more restaurants down the line.”

With over 20 years of operational experience at its 7 corporate restaurants and now four franchisee locations, La Rosa Chicken & Grill feels like it is positioned strongly for franchise growth because of its combination of attractive factors. It has seen positive performance and growth in its corporate locations by offering an expansive menu servicing multiple types of customers at multiple times of day with a high repeat rate. “Now is the time to get in on ground floor. Now you can buy units. There are not many places like us that have our kind of menu and format,” said Vincenzo Pugliese, founder of La Rosa Chicken & Grill.

“I love food, and there isn’t another restaurant out there that comes close to matching the quality of La Rosa. That’s why I signed on to be a franchisee. Not only are we serving our customers nutritious meals, we’re also providing them with unbelievable taste,” Rega added. “Our staff and commitment to customer service is another thing that really sets us apart. And it’s not just the people in the front of each restaurant who are friendly and welcoming—everyone who I’ve worked with on the brand’s corporate team has been incredibly helpful, too. We want to create a feel-good experience every time someone walks in through our doors.”

“Food always brought my family together, especially after my father opened up his own series of food outlets in malls. Watching him build his business from the ground up is what ultimately inspired me to launch La Rosa in the first place. And now, I’m thrilled for the opportunity to be able to bring our concept to more families through franchising,” said Pugliese. “There’s a real need for a restaurant like La Rosa in communities all over the U.S. More and more people are looking at the quality of a brand’s ingredients before deciding where to dine out, and we offer them the best value, both nutritionally and financially.”

As more franchisees like Rega sign on to bring La Rosa Chicken & Grill to their own local communities, the brand is positioned for rapid growth in the months and years ahead. And between the brand’s seven restaurants that are currently operating across New York and New Jersey in addition to Rega’s Berkeley Heights location that’s expected to be open this fall, La Rosa Chicken & Grill is already well on its way to establishing a strong presence in its home base on the East Coast.

According to Rega, that trend will continue because of La Rosa Chicken & Grill’s strong corporate support team.