1851

<h4>1851 Franchise: What is the concept behind Toasted Yolk Café? How did it start?</h4>Chris Milton: The <a href="https://thetoastedyolk.com/franchise-opportunity/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=executive-qa-with-toasted-yolk-cafe-co-founder-chris-milton-2715777" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Toasted Yolk Café</a> started back in 2010. My co-founder, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-demott-0b706a166?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=executive-qa-with-toasted-yolk-cafe-co-founder-chris-milton-2715777" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Demott</a>, and I found the better-breakfast segment to be extremely underserved at the time, with most of the competition consisting of the occasional greasy spoon. The brunch restaurants that did exist were all the same — roosters on the wall, country-themed decor and average food. We wanted to create something that would be more upscale and lively, with flat-screen TVs, a bar and a chef-driven menu. The Toasted Yolk concept proved to be a fast hit in Houston, and we started franchising the brand in 2017.&nbsp;<h4>1851: What Sets Toasted Yolk Café apart in the restaurant industry?</h4>Milton: Our family-friendly and upscale atmosphere is really second-to-none, and our made-from-scratch menu is far higher quality than most brands in the segment. For example, when we started, none of our competitors had more than two or three lunch items on the menu. We wanted lunch to mean something at Toasted Yolk. We take pride in our delicious <a href="https://thetoastedyolk.com/menu/lunch/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=executive-qa-with-toasted-yolk-cafe-co-founder-chris-milton-2715777" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">lunch menu</a>, and our strong lunch sales set us apart from other players within the category. Additionally, since lunch is more delivery-friendly than breakfast, these offerings have also proven to be beneficial during the pandemic.<h4>1851: What makes Toasted Yolk Café a strong franchise opportunity?</h4>Milton: The better-breakfast segment is experiencing major growth, and Toasted Yolk franchisees have the opportunity to tap into that. The concept also offers franchisees an enviable work/life balance — owners can be out of the restaurant by 4 p.m. and spend the evening with their families. The typical restaurant business is hard work and long hours, but we provide franchisees with an opportunity to have a life outside of their job. Also, restaurants can traditionally be complicated to run, but our streamlined business model is designed to make operations and staffing easy while maximizing profits.&nbsp;<h4>1851: What were some of Toasted Yolk Café’s major accomplishments?</h4>Milton: The first restaurant we built in Houston was a huge moment for us. When we hit 10 restaurants, that was another big milestone. Now, we plan on expanding outside of our home state of Texas into markets like Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Florida, which is exciting as we now have the potential to be more than just a regional chain.&nbsp;We didn’t see a single Toasted Yolk location close during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was this year’s major accomplishment. Now, most of our restaurants have returned to pre-pandemic sales levels. We were also able to open four new locations despite the challenges of last year.&nbsp;While the pandemic has forced many restaurant brands to slow down, the breakfast segment continues to grow. Now, breakfast and lunch restaurants have become the meeting place for people outside of their homes. For example, instead of bringing someone to the office, we’ve seen a huge influx in people meeting at our restaurants for business meetings.&nbsp;<h4>1851: Who is the ideal Toasted Yolk franchisee?</h4>Milton: The ideal Toasted Yolk franchisee is someone who is passionate about the brand and the food — not someone who is just worried about making money. The Toasted Yolk concept needs to be something that franchisees can get behind as a brand ambassador, and they should be excited to offer the concept to their community. We have room for both owner-operators and semi-absentee owners, but we want someone who isn't just looking to open the restaurant and forget about it.&nbsp;<h4>1851: What are the goals for the brand in 2021 and beyond?</h4>Milton: For 2021, we hope to hit the 25-unit mark. Five years from now, I would love to see us operating in the southeastern U.S. as we work our way toward becoming a nationally recognized restaurant chain people across the country know and love.For more information on franchising with Toasted Yolk Café, visit: <a href="https://thetoastedyolk.com/franchise-opportunity/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=executive-qa-with-toasted-yolk-cafe-co-founder-chris-milton-2715777" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://thetoastedyolk.com/franchise-opportunity/</a>ABOUT TOASTED YOLK CAFÉ:&nbsp;Founded in 2010, the Toasted Yolk Café is a full service breakfast and lunch concept offering a mix of creative menu interpretations paired with traditional favorites. Founded by restaurant industry veterans Chris Milton and Mathew DeMott, the Toasted Yolk Café is committed to serving dishes made with only the highest-quality ingredients served in a relaxed and comfortable environment. For more information, visit https://www.thetoastedyolk.com.

Executive Q&A with Toasted Yolk Café Co-Founder Chris Milton

1851 Franchise

Chris Milton, Co-Founder of Toasted Yolk Café

executive-qa-with-toasted-yolk-cafe-co-founder-chris-milton

petbar

petbar Franchise - Marc Hildebrand - Nicole Baptiste - San Antonio - 1851 Franchise

Spreading Bark-Side Joy: How Nicole and Marc Bring Trust and Canine Bliss to San Antonio

petbar-franchise-alamo-heights-san-antonio-nicole-baptiste-marc-hildebrand

Wild Bill's Craft Beverage Company

How Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage Co. Built a 23-Year Brand That Empowers Veterans Through Franchising

wild-bills-craft-beverage-co-veteran-franchise-opportunity

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers Franchise - St. Louis Expansion - 1851 Franchise

Why St. Louis Is the Next Major Growth Opportunity for Comfort Keepers®

comfort-keepers-st-louis-franchise-opportunities

Keke's Breakfast Cafe

Inside Keke’s Breakfast Cafe’s Hands-On Training System: How the Brand Sets Franchisees Up for Success from Day One

inside-kekes-breakfast-cafes-hands-on-training-system-how-the-brand-sets-franchisees-up-for-success-from-day-one

Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions Ranks No. 358 on the Franchise Times Top 400 List for 2025

caring-transitions-ranks-no-358-on-the-franchise-times-top-400-list-for-2025

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Amazon outage, AWS outage, Amazon AWS logo

The Day the Cloud Stalled: How Amazon's Outage Impacted Franchise Economy

amazon-aws-outage-franchise-impact-travel-dining-failure

Thursday 1851 Franchise Agg - NASAA’s Noncompete Push

NASAA’s Noncompete Push Puts Franchise Growth on Uncertain Ground

franchise-noncompete-nasaa-advisory-reasonableness-standard

How a Steady Economy Could Help Franchisors Plan Their Next Move

how-a-steady-economy-could-help-franchisors-plan-their-next-move

Bed Bath & Beyond - Franchise Expansion - Retail Strategy - 1851 Franchise

Bed Bath & Beyond Launches Franchise Model as Part of Comeback Strategy

bed-bath-beyond-franchise-expansion-retail-strategy

Senior Entrepreneurship - Franchising - 1851 Franchise

Senior Entrepreneurship Is Rising — And Franchising Is a Key Outlet

senior-entrepreneurship-franchising-silver-startups

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

image of mellow mushroom deep dive into financials article from 1851 franchise

Mellow Mushroom Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

mellow-mushroom-franchise-deep-dive

Photo of Humbug Holiday Lighting team members wearing festive sweaters, beanies, smiling at camera

Happinest Brands Turns the ‘Off-Season’ Into a Bright Spot for Franchisees

happinest-holiday-lighting-franchise-support

How goGLOW Turned Clean Beauty Into a Scalable Franchise and Why It’s Accelerating Now

goglow-clean-beauty-tanning-franchise

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

graphic image of an 1851 franchisee spotlight brayden and johnny steven of teriyaki madness

Father-and-Daughter Team Bring Teriyaki Madness to Wichita, Kansas, With Big Expansion Plans

johnny-brayden-steven-teriyaki-madness-wichita

Top Education Franchises To Consider for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Education Franchises To Consider Investing In for 2025

top-education-franchises-investment-opportunities

Executive Q&A with Toasted Yolk Café Co-Founder Chris Milton

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS