1851

<p>After Premal Shanghvi and his wife Leela decided they wanted to go into franchising, the right opportunity fell into their lap.&nbsp;</p><p>One cold night in February 2017, the Shanghvis stumbled upon a unique pizza joint, <a href="https://www.artichokepizza.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-i-bought-my-franchise-premal-shanghvi-artichoke-basilles-pizza-franchisee-2715600" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>Artichoke Basille’s Pizza</u></a>. After enjoying a signature artichoke slice from the unique and delicious pizza franchise, the couple was hooked. Soon after, they learned the brand had plans to franchise, and they signed on as the very first Artichoke Basille’s Pizza franchisees in New Jersey. After four years of perfecting their store in Hoboken, New Jersey, the Shanghvis are now preparing to open their second location in Jersey City.</p><p>1851 caught up with Premal to learn more about why he was so excited to buy and what drew him to the brand.</p><h4>1851 Franchise: Tell us a bit about your background.</h4><p><strong>Premal Shanghvi</strong>: I have a background in real estate management and development along with retail operations. My wife Leela has a background in institutional kitchen and operations.</p><h4>1851: How did you get interested in franchising?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h4><p><strong>Shanghvi: </strong>We really like the concept of being part of an established business and brand that provides a solid structure and support system.</p><h4>1851: Why was this brand a better fit than other brands in the segment.&nbsp;</h4><p><strong>Shanghvi</strong>: We both wanted to be a part of something that we love. We discovered Artichoke Basille Pizza in New York on a cold night in February 2017. It was a unique experience to witness so many people waiting patiently for a slice of pizza in frigid temperatures. Only a few businesses/restaurants carry that charm and fan-fare! Artichoke Basille’s Pizza was definitely one of them. So, we got in line, ordered the signature Artichoke slice, ate it in the car while discussing the potential business opportunity that was out there for us in the future.</p><p>The opportunity came sooner than we expected, as a few months later we found out they were franchising. We applied to become their first franchisees in New Jersey. The one thing that really drew us to the Artichoke Basille’s Pizza concept, which stood apart from other brands, was the simplicity of the menu. They stayed true to what they knew and did it very well, and that was something we wanted to be a part of.&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: Walk us through your journey as a franchisee candidate with the brand. What happened between your first inquiry and opening your first location?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h4><p><strong>Shanghvi</strong>: Once we learned that they were franchising, we applied online and we received a call about a week later from <a href="https://fransmart.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-i-bought-my-franchise-premal-shanghvi-artichoke-basilles-pizza-franchisee-2715600" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>Fransmart</u></a>, their franchising development company at the time. We had a really good conversation about our expectations and what the overall franchise experience would look like.&nbsp; Next, we had a preliminary conference call with Francis Garcia and Sal Basille, the founders of Artichoke Basille's Pizza. The conversation went really well, and a couple of weeks later we had a meeting in person at their corporate office with their entire team. We were really impressed with the passion, knowledge and experience that they brought to the table. More importantly, we were happy to get to know them in person. They were friendly, down to earth and also team-orientated. At the very first meeting, we all agreed that Hoboken would be our potential first stop in New Jersey. We have store number two opening in a few months in Jersey City next.&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: Did you do a discovery day? How did that go?&nbsp;</h4><p><strong>Shanghvi</strong>: Discovery day was really great because we were able to see the back-end operations of the business and how everything came together. It’s a really good time to ask questions, get a feel for real-time operations and get to know the franchise team.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: What advice would you give to a franchisor who is hoping to get more franchisees to sign on?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h4><p><strong>Shanghvi</strong>: Be open and transparent with your potential franchisees. This helps to build confidence in the brand and the team as well. Be present to show support and guidance to create a personal work relationship and long-lasting trust.</p>

Why I Bought My Franchise: Premal Shanghvi, Artichoke Basille’s Pizza Franchisee

1851 Franchise

After one slice on a cold February night, Premal Shanghvi fell in love with Artichoke Basille’s Pizza’s signature slice. Now he and his wife are preparing to open their second location.

why-i-bought-my-franchise-premal-shanghvi-artichoke-basilles-pizza-franchisee

Dillas Quesadillas

Dillas Quesadillas Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

dillas-quesadillas-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

Paris Baguette

image of paris baguette Love Baked In Culture & Community Impact No Kid Hungry and City Harvest

How Paris Baguette’s ‘Love Baked In’ Culture Nourishes Communities

culture-love-baked-in-community

Mellow Mushroom

Mellow Mushroom CEO Richard Brasch Reveals How the Iconic Pizza Brand Is Evolving Without Losing Its Soul

mellow-mushroom-ceo-richard-brasch-reveals-how-the-iconic-pizza-brand-is-evolving-without-losing-its-soul

Children's Lighthouse

Why Family-Owned Children’s Lighthouse Gives Franchisees a Long-Term Advantage

why-family-owned-childrens-lighthouse-franchise-advantage

Minuteman Press International

Minuteman Press franchise owners Elena Galkina and her son Vlad Galkin, Santa, Clara, CA.

Minuteman Press Franchise Review: Elena Galkina & Vlad Galkin

minuteman-press-franchise-review-elena-galkina-vlad-galkin

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

CNBC: McDonald’s Will Assess if Franchisees Are Offering Value for Customers Under New Standards

mcdonalds-franchise-standards-value-metric

How AI Is Transforming Restaurant Operations and Franchises

ai-impact-restaurants-franchises-human-centric-technology

Round Table Pizza Franchisees Take FAT Brands to Court Over Marketing Fund Mismanagement

round-table-pizza-franchisees-take-fat-brands-to-court-over-marketing-fund-mismanagement

FAT Brands Nears Bankruptcy as Creditors Demand Repayment of $1.3 Billion Debt

fat-brands-nears-bankruptcy-as-creditors-demand-repayment-of-13-billion-debt

Callaway Sells Majority Stake in Topgolf to Private Equity for $770 Million

callaway-sells-majority-stake-in-topgolf-to-private-equity-for-770-million

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of manar landis and maha zirn kashoor from griswold franchise in oklahoma city

Sisters Channel Humanitarian Experience Into New Griswold Franchise Serving Oklahoma City Families

griswold-franchise-oklahoma-city-north-manar-landis-maha-zirn-kashoor

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

What Makes Mellow Mushroom a Strong Franchise Investment? Insights From the Panos Family’s Metro Atlanta Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Eli Cohen, Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

C5 Restaurants Grows its Texas Footprint with 40 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations Planned Statewide

Why I Bought My Franchise: Premal Shanghvi, Artichoke Basille’s Pizza Franchisee

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS