Parents Team Up with Their Children to Bring Teriyaki Madness Franchise To College Towns in the SEC

After enjoying a meal at a Teriyaki Madness (TMAD) and heading home for Christmas break, the franchise restaurant stayed on Caden Batista’s mind. The then-student thought TMAD would be a perfect fit for Starkville, MS and the community at Mississippi State University, one of the schools in the SEC. His parents, Juan and Joell, knew their son was onto something. Now, the Batista family is set to open their first location near the University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide, in Northport, Alabama at 3250 McFarland Blvd, Unit B, in Northport, on October 20th. 

The Batistas’ backgrounds are as diverse as they come. Juan transitioned from being a college professor to starting an internet company, all rooted in agriculture. Joell's expertise is in catering and is currently a food-safety auditor. Caden, whose passion is for sports and music, added to it through food. His sister, Bella, a graduate of San Diego State with a major in criminal justice, has always been drawn to the culinary world, having worked in hospitality for most of her life.

Still, the decision to venture into franchising wasn't initially on the family's radar. However, the family saw the 130-plus unit, Seattle-style franchise as the perfect organization to guide them in the restaurant world, with Juan praising its “simple menu and fabulous food.” The MSU student Caden was particularly drawn to TMAD's catering options and the potential to connect with the SEC — a group of 16 athletic universities across the Southeastern U.S.

1851 Franchise spoke with the entire Batista family to learn more about their backgrounds, their journey to franchising and their big plans for the future. 

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

Juan: My career originally started as a college professor, but I eventually moved on to start an internet company. Over the years, I have owned and operated several businesses, all of which were related to agriculture.

Joell: My background was in catering.  I’m now and have been for over 10 years auditing agricultural and food business for food-safety.

Caden: I grew up playing a lot of sports. When I went to Mississippi State, I started getting into making music and YouTube videos. Recently, my passion still includes music and sports but I;ve added a shift toward food. It seemed like the right next step.

Bella: I went to San Diego State, majoring in criminal justice. While there are no criminals at TMAD, I’ve always loved cooking and food. I have worked in hospitality for most of my life. 

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?

Juan: Opening a family business wasn’t necessarily something we had on the radar, but we are all interested in hospitality. One thing that is important to me is that both of these kids have invested their own money. This isn’t a family business that dad or mom has given the kids; this is a partnership and we’re all invested. As people with experience in hospitality, the idea of a franchise was very appealing. Restaurants are a brand new venture. But with TMAD, we knew we would be part of a great organization that could teach us the restaurant world. 

Bella: Franchising hasn’t always been a dream necessarily. When we were younger, we assumed we would end up in agriculture like our dad. But my dad has always preached, “Dream big and follow your heart.” We are doing something that branches out into the bigger hospitality dream. We are getting the guidance to do and grow it ourselves in the future. 

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

Joell: Caden actually introduced us to the brand. After he went away for college, he came home one Christmas and told us about this restaurant TMAD that he had tried. He said it would be a huge hit on his college campus. 

Juan: The more we looked into it, the more we saw that TMAD was a great concept. The food is fabulous. The menu is simple. It afforded us an opportunity to overlay our “Batista Madness” over Teriyaki Madness. 

Caden: The catering options were also a big factor for us. I was working in the catering industry at the time, and I knew the opportunity to tap into the SEC universities would provide a ton of opportunity and connections in these areas.

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

Juan: We are going to focus on our first location for now and figure out the ins and outs of how to run the business. From there, we want to open at least two more. There are 16 SEC schools. Whether or not we end up with one in each SEC town remains to be seen, but growth is definitely our goal. 

Bella: We also all have individual professional goals. I want to take this experience and knowledge to potentially use it in my next venture in hospitality.

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

Juan: We love the South, and hospitality is essential in that area of the country. Overall, for the Batistas, TMAD really is a natural fit for us. We love the environment of the brand and it feels right. This has nothing but a bonding experience for our family. 

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

Juan: Be aware of how much money you will need to spend before you get started. 

Bella: If you set your mind to it, you can do anything. Sure, you may have to leave some things behind as you move on from your prior venture, but it will end up being worth it. Think of it as walking up the stairs to the next level of your career.  

Caden: It is OK to be nervous, as long as you dream big and follow your heart. 

The initial investment required to open a Teriyaki Madness franchise ranges from $312,500 and $731,260. Learn more at franchise.teriyakimadness.com.

ABOUT TERIYAKI MADNESS

Teriyaki Madness is making big moves. Named the #1 Fastest-Growing Big Restaurant Chain in the U.S. by Restaurant Business, TMAD’s secret sauce lies in creating value for franchisees, guests and employees alike. More than 130 shops across three countries deliver big, heaping bowls of fresh, natural ingredients to their communities, creating a cult-like following with customers, employment opportunities for neighborhoods and profitable margins for the operators. Backed by world-class delivery and loyalty innovations and an all-star executive team, Teriyaki Madness’ focus is on sustainable growth and exceptional experiences. Visit franchise.teriyakimadness.com for single- and multi-unit opportunities, and join the Teriyaki Takeover.