Tin Drum Asian Kitchen Targets Dallas and Houston for Franchise Growth

Tin Drum Asian Kitchen, an authentic pan-Asian restaurant concept offering upscale fare at a fast-casual price point, is ready to take its winning concept to new markets in and outside of its home state of Georgia. With the goal of reaching 100 units over the next five years, the brand is looking for qualified franchisees who are eager to leverage an expert leadership team, a pandemic-resistant store model and an innovative menu to achieve success in their local market. Specifically, the team has set its sights on Texas and has identified Houston and Dallas as markets primed for franchise growth.

“We’re in a position to grow, and we’re excited to share what has proven to be a strong operational model for passionate entrepreneurs,” said Altaf Popatiya, Tin Drum’s COO and partner.

Why the Brand is Looking to Grow in Texas

Altaf says Tin Drum has specifically identified room to add new locations in Texas. Additionally, Altaf says the brand has already signed a new franchisee in Houston, whose location is set to open in March of next year.

There are a few reasons that the team believes Texas is a high-potential market for Tin Drum, Altaf said. For one, it has the ninth-largest economy in the world because of the state’s business-friendly climate, robust infrastructure and predictable regulations. Not only is it great for small business owners, but it is also seeing a massive influx in residents following the pandemic-fueled housing boom, with Dallas recognized as the fastest-growing city in the country.

Altaf says prospective Tin Drum franchisees have the opportunity to offer something brand new to those growing communities of Texas. “There are no other franchises in the U.S. right now that offer upscale affordable pan-Asian food and boba teas in the surging fast-casual market, meaning prospective franchisees in Texas can benefit from untapped consumer demand,” he said.

How Tin Drum Has Continued to Optimize its Business Model and Position Franchisees for Success

Since starting its franchise opportunity in 2010, Tin Drum has set itself apart in the franchise industry as a high-revenue business model with a simple layout, streamlined operations, strong support infrastructure and an affordable initial investment.

Recently, the brand has embarked on a “franchise rebirth,” spearheaded by the addition of Altaf and his wife Amisha to the executive team in 2018. The Popatiyas originally came to the brand as franchisees, but Amisha says she and Altaf were so inspired by their experience as owners, they decided to invest in the company and join the Tin Drum’s corporate team to help new entrepreneurs find the same success they had found.

“What we found with Tin Drum was without a doubt one of the best opportunities available in the franchise industry, but we learned that people just weren’t aware of it,” said Amisha, who is now the brand’s CMO and partner. “When we had the opportunity to join the corporate team, we saw an opportunity for a franchise rebirth. We had a great foundation with an excellent product and a proven operational model, and we seized the opportunity to turn that into the thriving franchise we knew it should be.”

The Popatiyas have helped build out Tin Drum’s franchise opportunity, bringing on talented new franchisees and nearly doubling the franchise’s systemwide sales along the way. Some of the new initiatives include the rollout of a new streamlined store model and a POS system that centralized virtually every operational variable for store owners, as well as a number of new menu offerings.

In 2020 the strength of that infrastructure allowed the Tin Drum brand to thrive despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “So many businesses in every sector struggled or failed during COVID, and it was especially hard for restaurants,” said Amisha. “The only way to make it through was to have tremendous customer loyalty and a finely tuned operational model that could withstand the economic pressure. We already knew that’s what we had with Tin Drum; COVID proved it to the world.”

Why Now is the Time to Invest in Tin Drum

Today, as Tin Drum emerges from the pandemic stronger than ever, franchisees have the opportunity to join a brand that is prioritizing continued growth and innovation. For example, Tin Drum rolled out a new beverage program just this past year, featuring bubble tea, which creates an additional revenue stream for franchisees. The offering has already proven to contribute to nearly 20% of annual sales despite being available at just six of Tin Drum's 10 locations.

“We looked very carefully at what options we had to increase top-line sales for our store owners, and beverages, particularly bubble tea, emerged as the most profitable option,” Amisha said. “That exemplifies just how careful and deliberate we are in our efforts to make our stores more profitable for owners.”

Looking ahead, the Tin Drum team is hoping to reach 100 locations within the next five years. In addition to Texas, the team is looking for qualified franchisees in Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

“We expect to have at least 100 units in our pipeline within the next five years, but unit-count is really not the driving force behind our strategy — unit performance is,” he said. “We want every single one of our stores performing at the highest possible level. So, we’re prepared to grow our franchise system, but we are doing so in a way that will prioritize AUV and ROI for each and every franchise owner.”

The total cost to invest in a Tin Drum Asian Kitchen ranges from $351,800 to $563,250. For more information on franchising with the brand, please visit https://tindrumfranchise.com/.