Multi-Unit Man

by Peter Riggs Life is full of complicated decisions. But one of these decisions tends to be more complicated than others. What do I want to do with my life? That’s what soon-to-be multi-unit Pita Pit franchisee Jack Brighenti was asking himself—and his professor. Jack was meeting with his professor to discuss what he should do after graduation. You see, Jack was thinking he’d like to go for his MBA, but his professor suggested otherwise. It just wasn’t the right time to go for that sort of thing. What to do… One detail I forgot to mention – they were having this meeting over lunch at the Pita Pit near Rollins College in Winter Park, FL (coincidentally owned by another young, multi-unit Pita Pit franchisee…but that’s a different story for a different time). That’s when Jack’s wheels really started turning. “I started to think that maybe I should do something in food. I’ve always been passionate about food.” So that’s when Jack started to do his research. “I wanted to do something like Pita Pit. I loved the concept and I ate there all the time. That was the kind of restaurant I wanted to own, so I went online just to learn more about this place that I thought was the only one, and I found out it was a franchise.” I know what you’re thinking…did he figure out what he wanted to do with his life? Apparently. After experiencing success with his first Pita Pit, he started thinking about opening another one. “The success of the first restaurant made me want to open another one, but I also realized that I really thrived on the challenge of running a business and I really enjoyed teaching people.” Jack is about to open his third Pita Pit and just signed a multi-unit agreement to open an additional three. And he’s only 26. So Jack has three Pita Pit restaurants, three more to come, a wife and a baby. He’s accomplished a lot at the ripe old age of 26. For a man who has moved so far so fast, the question begs to be asked: what’s next? “Just the Pita Pit. I’m gonna focus on the stores I have and building some more. I don’t want to try any other concepts. I’m just gonna stick with the Pita Pit…and then someday I’ll go fishing!”