1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/manny-eliades-a0b86b133/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-adds-biggby-coffee-location-to-his-gas-station-in-palos-hills-illinois-2726688" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Manny Eliades</a> 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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.biggbyfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-adds-biggby-coffee-location-to-his-gas-station-in-palos-hills-illinois-2726688" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">BIGGBY® COFFEE</a> was the perfect solution.&nbsp;Eliades and his wife had the opportunity to try&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/biggbycoffee/info">BIGGBY® COFFEE</a> 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.&nbsp;1851 Franchise spoke to Eliades to learn more about his franchise journey with BIGGBY® COFFEE and his plans for the future.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Manny Eliades:&nbsp;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.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;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:&nbsp;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.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;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 FranchiseBIGGBY® 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.

Franchisee Adds BIGGBY® COFFEE Location in Palos Hills, IL

1851 Franchise

Inspired by the emphasis BIGGBY® places on “people and community,” Manny Eliades is bringing the coffee shop franchise to his long-standing gas station in the Chicago suburbs.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Gas Station Owner Expands Business with BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise

franchisee-adds-biggby-coffee-location-to-his-gas-station-in-palos-hills-illinois

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Right at Home

Right at Home® Named a 2025 Top Franchise Brand for Multi-Unit Owners by Entrepreneur Magazine

right-at-home-named-a-2025-top-franchise-brand-for-multi-unit-owners-by-entrepreneur-magazine

Dog Training Elite

Dog Training Elite -Tips-to-Ease-Dog Anxiety-for-4th of July- July-2025

Dog Training Elite Shares Tips To Ease Dog Anxiety for 4th of July

tips-to-ease-dog-anxiety-fireworks-4th-of-july

Melting Pot

Photo of interior of Melting Pot restaurant

Lexington Herald Leader: This Restaurant Chain Eyes a Return to Lexington After 10 Years

melting-pot-return-to-lexington

Keke's Breakfast Cafe

Keke's Breakfast Cafe - John and Kimberly Ehrhard - 1851 Franchise

Empowering Leadership, One Pancake at a Time: How John and Kimberly Ehrhard Are Building a Franchise Legacy with Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

john-kimberly-ehrhard-kekes-franchise

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

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Raj Pingili and Paris Baguette logo

How a Family Vacation Inspired Raj Pingili to Bring Paris Baguette to Towson, Maryland

how-a-family-vacation-inspired-raj-pingili-to-bring-paris-baguette-to-towson-maryland

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Juan & Whitney Fernandez & family, BIGGBY COFFEE logo

From Chiropractic to Coffee: These BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchisees Are Brewing Something New in Troy, Ohio 

biggby-coffee-franchise-coming-to-troy-ohio

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Sean Phelan & Caring Transitions logo

From Tech to Transitions: Why This Caring Transitions Franchisee Left the Corporate World To Help Families Navigate Life’s Hardest Moves

Gas Station Owner Expands Business with BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS