The Winning Franchisee | Husband and Wife Duo Bring Teriyaki Madness to Katy, TX, Marking the Brand’s 100th Location

After serving in the military for nearly three decades, Sylvester John and his wife, Shadia, signed on with Teriyaki Madness, a fast-casual brand with franchise agreements for nearly 250 shops across the U.S., in hopes of a fresh start. Now, the couple operates three locations in Texas.

The shops are open in Round Rock, Katy, and Fulshear, Texas. The duo had the honor of opening the 100th Teriyaki Madness in 2021. To celebrate the grand opening of the brand’s 100th location and Sylvester and Shadia’s second, they offered discounts on bowls — $1 from each bowl sold was donated to Katy Christian Ministries ito supporttheir food pantry initiatives. 

1851 Franchise: Tell me your story – what did you do before franchising?

Shadia John: I worked in banking as a branch manager for 20 years.

Sylvester John: I served in the military for 27 years. When I retired, I reserved time with the military and worked with Chevron as a Safety Specialist in Midland. We were then relocated to the Greater Houston area and have been here ever since. On the side, we also invest in Real Estate.

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising and what was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchise owner?

Shadia: When we were relocated to Houston, my passion for banking was not there anymore, and this caused me to look into wanting to do something different. We used a franchise consultant to research various real estate opportunities since we were familiar with that industry. We were initially apprehensive about franchising in the food industry. 

Our franchise consultant told us about Teriyaki Madness, a younger concept that was quickly growing in other parts of the country. After extensive research, speaking to current franchisees, attending discovery day, and several conversations with Michael Haith (CEO), we decided Teriyaki Madness was the best fit for us. We have no regrets about the decision made.

1851: How did you decide you wanted to be a franchisee?

Shadia: Interestingly enough, we both wanted to do something different. We were both in the corporate world for quite some time and decided it was time for a change of pace. Franchising allowed us to grow our own business while having the support from our franchisor, who has all the systems in place for us to be successful owners.

1851: How did you perform your research? 

Shadia: We used a franchise consultant through Franchise Gator. He helped us narrow down which brands would be best for us.

1851: Why did you pick Teriyaki Madness? What excited you most about the potential?

Sylvester: Teriyaki Madness is a fast-growing brand that offers quality, innovative food options. In addition, the profit margin really appealed to us, and we knew we could reach our financial goals with this brand.

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Sylvester: We currently have three locations: Round Rock, Katy Main and Fulshear.

Shadia:  The future looks very promising.  I am excited to have our children learn and grow the business.  At the end of the day, it is all about family and having them continue what we started.

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Sylvester: Know your numbers and what your investment needs to be before you get involved with a franchise.

Shadia:  Speak to others, as many as you can, who are in the business. Get their take on how it is working for them. Everyone’s experience is unique.

ABOUT TERIYAKI MADNESS

Fast casual Teriyaki Shop franchise Teriyaki Madness is committed to unconditionally satisfying guests by offering delicious, made-to-order, healthy (or not) bowls, apps and sides, prepared with fresh, all-natural ingredients served quickly and at a reasonable price. Guests can enjoy their bowls in the shop, or order through the mobile app for delivery or curbside pickup. Teriyaki Madness has been ranked on Entrepreneur’s Top Food Franchises, FastCasual’s Movers and Shakers in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, the Inc. 5000 list for six straight years, and was named the Fastest-Growing Big Restaurant Chain in the United States by Restaurant Business in 2021. Founded in 2003, the brand currently has more than 120 shops open, with franchising opportunities nationwide for qualified single and multi-unit candidates. For more information, visit www.franchise.teriyakimadness.com.