Trio of Healthcare and Finance Professionals Open Their First BIGGBY® COFFEE with Plans to Open Ten Stores

For Neil Patel, Parth Patel (no relation) and Bobby Arelli, their journey into franchising with BIGGBY® COFFEE — the high-energy coffee coffeehouse concept with 379 cafes across the U.S. — began during the COVID pandemic. Neil and Parth met in 2020 through a mutual friend at the gym and quickly bonded over their shared interests in real estate and finance. They started a real estate business together, which eventually led them to explore other business opportunities. In 2022, Neil met Bobby through another mutual friend and the three formed a partnership based on their complementary skills and common goals.

The trio’s decision to franchise with BIGGBY® COFFEE was driven by their positive experiences with the brand and its community-oriented model after visiting a café in Memphis, Tennessee. “[We] fell in love with the model, especially the owner and staff,” Neil said. “Initially, we were going to open our own coffee shop, but the BIGGBY® model was exactly what we wanted. They have a diverse appeal, capturing different socioeconomic classes, which is something we liked.”

Bobby, a healthcare provider and medical director, saw franchising as an opportunity to combine his passion for business with a desire to make a positive impact on the community. “I enjoy coffee and, for us, it’s not just a business,” he said. “We want to ensure that the franchise becomes embedded into the community, making people feel comforted, welcomed and happier when they leave.”

Their approach to franchising is grounded in their shared values and commitment to ethical business practices. Neil emphasized the importance of finding a franchisor that shares your values. “The biggest piece of advice is to align with a company that shares your morals and with people you feel comfortable working with,” he said. “Everybody needs help when starting a business, so it’s important to be comfortable asking for it.”

“We want to be part of an organization that values ethics and doing the right thing,” Bobby added. “This approach will help us grow and ensure we’re part of a franchise that treats people well and maintains high standards. Treat your business and customers as you would your family.”

Bobby, Neil and Parth are on track to open their first BIGGBY® café in Clarksville, Tennessee, in November and are currently in talks with the franchisor to open a total of 10 locations over the next six years. 

1851 Franchise spoke with the trio to learn more about their franchising journey with BIGGBY® COFFEE and their plans for growing the brand in Tennessee.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Neil Patel: Parth and I met in 2020 during COVID through a mutual friend at the gym. We started talking and realized we had a lot of the same interests. We were both in school; I was studying biology and finance, and Parth was studying finance. We both liked real estate, so we started a real estate business and scaled that. I met Bobby through a mutual friend in 2022. We became family friends and I shared some business ideas with him. He loved them and I loved his. Then I connected Bobby and Parth. It always just worked synergistically together.

Bobby Arelli: I'm a healthcare provider by training, working for a pharma company as a medical director. I've always wanted to get into business ventures because it's in my blood. Both my children are in business school and decided not to go the healthcare route, so I thought it was a perfect opportunity to start doing something in the business world that I enjoy. I enjoy coffee and, for us, it's not just business; we want to ensure that the franchise becomes embedded into the community, making people feel comforted, welcomed and happier when they leave.

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?

Neil: My family, along with Parth's family, have been franchising various hospitality businesses for a long time. For me, the biggest thing about franchising is that they are here to help you. They have the framework set up and the resources available. It's not like they will always reach out to you; you have to reach out to them. But they will help you. So, why wouldn't you take advantage of a structure already established for you?

Bobby: I understand franchising from my wife's family, who are all from a business background. The significance of franchising is in shortening the delta to get from point A to point B, working through some quirks. It's about problem-solving and troubleshooting. If we have issues, we can call BIGGBY® and get their top three scenarios to plan for. It's really about the people and their support, which gravitated us towards BIGGBY®.

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

Neil: We were looking at different franchises, and BIGGBY® always stood above everybody else. We visited the only location close to us in Memphis and fell in love with the model, especially the owner and staff. Initially, we were going to open our own coffee shop, but the BIGGBY® model was exactly what we wanted. They have a diverse appeal, capturing different socioeconomic classes, which is something we liked.

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

Bobby: We're starting on the northwest side of Tennessee in Clarksville, which is a rapidly growing city. Our plans are to eventually have a presence in major communities, leveraging Tennessee's major interstates. We aim to bring the BIGGBY® brand recognition from Michigan to Tennessee, ensuring that people feel welcomed and leave happier. We want to expand thoughtfully, ensuring we maintain the right culture and community focus.

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

Bobby: For us, the sky's the limit. We are two distinct age groups combining our unique knowledge from different segments. We understand the evolution of the community and the marketplace. My advice is to take a leap of faith, find the right business partners, or rely on BIGGBY® to help alleviate concerns. We feel strongly that BIGGBY® will continue to strengthen our business. I would tell others, just do it.

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

Neil: The biggest piece of advice is to align with a company that shares your morals and with people you feel comfortable working with. Everybody needs help when starting a business, so it's important to be comfortable asking for it.

Bobby: Culture is a big word thrown around a lot in the industry, but it makes a difference. We want to be part of an organization that values ethics and doing the right thing. This approach will help us grow and ensure we're part of a franchise that treats people well and maintains high standards. Treat your business and customers as you would your family.

Parth: Thoroughly research the franchise's history and market potential, leverage training and network with other franchisees, and prepare for the financial commitment with a clear business plan. Also have a passion for what you’re getting into, it becomes part of the family over time.

About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise

BIGGBY® 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.