Aha! Moment: Coming Up with the Million Dollar Idea

Brian Burchill grew up in a household that loved to gather around with friends and family. Hosting groups of more than 30 people was a regular occurrence, and Brian loved putting together a really good time for people and seeing guests enjoy themselves over and over again.

While pursuing an acting career, Burchill spent years working his way up from bussing to managing restaurants, and he found a passion in showing people a good time and seeing them leave satisfied both on the stage and from the restaurants.

When Burchill realized he could help make someone’s day from a wonderful experience at a restaurant, he felt that it was a natural step to open his own. And he did. Thus Toast Cafe (since re-branded to Famous Toastery) was born.

“I felt we could make it successful because I knew what we could do,” said Burchill. “I thought I could create a culture of fresh food and incredible service in a restaurant that also has a high energy and community-feel that you want to go to every single day.”

At first, Burchill's parents came down from New York to help get the first Toast Cafe open and running. Burchill attributes his family’s presence translating well to the family atmosphere that was created for local customers to cling onto.

But what makes both former Toast Café locations and current Famous Toastery restaurants special is a combination of the overall experience coupled with top quality, gourmet food.

Burchill's partner, Robert Maynard, didn’t have a background in restaurants, but he did see the business appeal to brunch.

“There’s no leader in the market, no one doing brunch really well – except us,” said Maynard. “It’s an untapped market, no McDonalds, Subway or Dominos is in the brunch segment yet. We’re going to be that brand.”

Ten years after the concept’s inception, with six open stores, and 15 more signed agreements, the brunch energy is contagious. Burchill chose breakfast, lunch and brunch because he loves the hustle and bustle, and he likes controlling the chaos of customers having to be in and out quickly.

Maynard saw an empty space to bring the best breakfast to the masses.

“Being from New York, I was used to some of the best food in the country. But when you go into other towns and cities, you just can’t find an amazing fresh omelet easily. So my thought was that we could bring that amazing fresh food restaurant to the masses,” he said.

The duo watched the crowds grow from 50 people in a day to 500 people in a day; they opened a second location, and then a third, before they decided to franchise the concept.

Burchill saw the community respond to the concept gradually, building their trust in the owners and their obsession with the brand’s food quality and welcoming atmosphere growing simultaneously.

“When people left, their comments went from telling me the food was alright at the very beginning, to telling me it was good after we were open for a bit, before telling me it was great after a year or so, until we polished our offerings and all the comments are about how amazing it is,” Burchill added.

With an unsaturated market, loyal fans, and an unmatched competitor, Famous Toastery is set up to continue momentum, riding on Burchill and Maynard’s passion and energy.