Childhood Friends and Business Partners Team Up to Bring Teriyaki Madness to Cleveland Suburbs

Mike Vanderbosch and Rick Kolodka’s journey into franchising with Teriyaki Madness is a testament to their long-standing friendship and shared entrepreneurial spirit. Having known each other since their youth, the duo reconnected after high school when Vanderbosch began working for Kolodka’s uncle, where they developed a strong bond. Over the years, they’ve worked together on various projects and maintained a close friendship, always discussing the possibility of going into business together.

“We’ve always wanted to take a risk,” said Vanderbosch, “and this opportunity felt right.”

Their introduction to Teriyaki Madness came serendipitously during a road trip Kolodka was making with his son. They stopped at a gas station with a subpar fast-food option, only to discover a nearby Teriyaki Madness.

“We had never heard of it before, but my son looked it up and suggested we try it,” said Kolodka. “We liked it so much that I ran into Mike when I got back home and told him about it.” After researching, they were impressed by the brand’s growth and the quality of the food, leading them to invest in the franchise.

“I bought in mentally, came out of retirement and decided to do this,” Kolodka said.

The pair have signed a franchising agreement with Teriyaki Madness and are hoping to sign a lease soon for their first shop in the Cleveland suburb of Avon. Both agree that their decision to franchise with Teriyaki Madness is deeply rooted in their belief in the product and the brand’s culture.

“The food, for me, is fantastic,” Vanderbosch said, “and the fact that the company is growing rapidly excites me.”

“There’s no downside,” Kolodka added. “We’re creating a place that people will love to work and eat at, and I’m really excited about that.”

Kolodka and Vanderbosch sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss their business partnership, their franchising journey with Teriyaki Madness and their 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?

Rick Kolodka: I bounced around my relatives growing up, living in Grafton, Ohio with my cousins and my uncle, who just passed away last month. Mike lived about eight doors down and was the paperboy. I started working with my uncle, who was an air traffic controller, right out of high school. I spent 34 years as an air traffic controller, retiring a couple of years ago. Along the way, I had a few side businesses, like sports memorabilia stores and private labeling our own beef jerky and beef sticks. I also dabbled in motorcycle parts. My boys race Motocross, so I did anything I could to support that.

A few months ago, while driving down south to visit family in South Carolina, my son and I stopped at a gas station with a fast-food restaurant. The food wasn’t great, and then we noticed a Teriyaki Madness nearby. We had never heard of it before, but my son looked it up and suggested we try it. We liked it so much that I told Mike about it when I got back home. A few weeks later, he expressed interest in doing one together. After researching, we found out it was one of the fastest-growing franchises, with excellent reviews and fantastic food. My sons love it, and knowing that they do, I figured the younger generation would too. I bought in mentally, came out of retirement and decided to do this.

Mike Vanderbosch: I’ve worked pretty much every day of my life since I was 11 years old. I’ve had two jobs for about 60% of my life. I was a partner in another company called Precision Painting and Power Washing, but mostly I worked in manufacturing for 30 years, particularly in the automotive and the chemical plant industry, and served as a supervisor for 11 of those years. I’m used to supervising people. I think I’ll probably be the daytime manager at our first Teriyaki Madness until we get it up and running, then maybe we’ll open more locations down the line.

1851: How long have you guys known each other? How did you become business partners?

Vanderbosch: We knew of each other when I was the paperboy, but we really connected after high school when I was about 18. I started working for Rick’s uncle, learning the painting business. Rick joined his uncle’s business later on, and that’s how we got to know each other. We’ve worked together in the past, and we’ve known each other for a long time — since about 1988. We’ve always wanted to take a risk, and this opportunity felt right. 

Kolodka: We’ve remained friends over the years, always arguing about sports — like whether Michael Jordan or LeBron James is better. We hang out with the same group of friends and have worked together on and off. Mike’s an easy person to deal with, and I don’t foresee any issues working together. We’ve known each other for over 40 years and the friendship has always been solid.

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?

Kolodka: Before this, my life was very relaxed and easy in retirement, but I quickly realized there’s a lot to learn in franchising. It’s much more than just turning on an oven and grilling some chicken. It’s something I’ve never dealt with before, but I’m interested in learning. Every kid dreams of being their own boss and we always talked about opening a bar or business. This is our opportunity — minus the headaches of alcohol. The feedback we’ve received from everyone, including banks and attorneys, has been positive. We’re excited about the location and believe it’s a great opportunity.

Vanderbosch: Franchising provides a lot of support, which you don’t get when starting a restaurant from scratch. With a franchise, you’re not taking on all the risks alone. Teriyaki Madness is growing rapidly and the business model is proven. That’s a huge advantage for us, especially as we’re just getting started.

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

Vanderbosch: The food, for me. It’s fantastic, and the fact that the company is growing rapidly excites me. 

Kolodka: I agree. The food is really fantastic. I don’t think there’s a better fast-casual restaurant out there. My boys love the protein, rice and veggies, which is a trend I see growing. I try to eat healthy, and Teriyaki Madness fits perfectly into that lifestyle. The food travels well, too. We tested it by bringing some home after a trip to a nearby location, and it was still warm after more than an hour. I believe in the product and that’s important to me. The trip to Denver [for Discovery Day] sealed the deal when I tried the tofu. I’m not usually a tofu guy, but it was excellent, and now I can confidently recommend it.

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

Vanderbosch: We want to prove that this first location is successful, and once we do, we plan to open more. We have a couple of other people in mind who might want to invest, but we definitely want to expand beyond just one location.

Kolodka: We’re using this first location as a litmus test. Once we understand what it takes to run the business, we can plan on opening more. I’d like to do it as soon as possible since I’m not getting any younger. But first, we need to learn the business before we can think about growing.

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

Kolodka: You have to be passionate about it. If I didn’t fully believe in this, I don’t think I could do it. If someone is going to run their own business, it has to come from the heart. They have to believe in it. Once I tried the tofu, I realized I could check all the boxes when it comes to recommending the food. I believe in it, and I think it’s here to stay.

Vanderbosch: People need to understand that it’s going to be a lot of work. If you’re the owner-manager, you’ll be there operating it. It’s not an easy job.

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

Kolodka: There’s a lot to learn in franchising, from talking to banks to real estate and everything in between. Teriyaki Madness and their team have been amazing — very knowledgeable — and they’ve taught us a lot. It’s been a learning experience, and I’ve enjoyed that. I’d advise others to know what they’re getting into before diving in, but once you start learning, it becomes a fun challenge. Every day is a learning experience, and once we’ve mastered it, I know we’ll be successful. I’m excited about what’s ahead.

Vanderbosch: I’ve noticed that the workers in Teriyaki Madness locations seem to enjoy their jobs. They look happy, which isn’t something you see everywhere. It’s a cool, trendy place, and I think people, especially the younger generation, are going to love working there.

1851: You’ve both touched on workplace culture. Are you guys bringing your own culture to the restaurant you’re opening, or is this something that’s baked into the DNA at Teriyaki Madness?

Kolodka: I think it’s a bit of both. I have a lot of ideas, and my brain never shuts down. The culture at Teriyaki Madness fits perfectly with what I want to create — a place that’s cool, trendy and fun. My kids love it, and I think other young adults will too. The product is healthy, reasonable and tasty — there’s no downside. We’re creating a place that people will love to work and eat at, and I’m really excited about that.

ABOUT TERIYAKI MADNESS  

Teriyaki Madness is making big moves. The secret sauce lies in TMAD’s uncompromising support systems that allow new business owners to achieve success through their proprietary training and support programs with teams dedicated to each franchisee’s unique needs. More than 150 shops across three countries deliver big, heaping bowls of fresh, healthy, natural ingredients to their communities, creating a cult-like following with customers, employment opportunities for neighborhoods, and profitable margins for the franchisees. Backed by leading-edge technology including delivery and loyalty innovations and an all-star executive team, Teriyaki Madness’ focus is on providing profitable opportunities for TMAD franchisees by providing delicious, healthy food to communities. Visit franchise.teriyakimadness.com for single and multi-unit opportunities.