Pilot and Former Teacher Become Franchisees with Teriyaki Madness

As a pilot and educator, respectively, Abraham Feliz and his wife Valerie know the meaning of hard work. While the two of them enjoyed what they were doing, they were also looking for a way to reclaim some work-life balance. So when Abraham tried Teriyaki Madness while he was in Hawaii, he knew what they needed to do. He brought the idea of opening a franchise back home to his wife, and with the motivation of incredible, fresh food and a lifestyle that better fit what they wanted, the couple decided to venture into franchising. 

As the couple prepares for the grand opening of their Teriyaki Madness location in McAllen, Texas on November 21, 2023, they look forward to bringing something positive to their community and hope to encourage upward mobility with a flexible and caring approach towards their employment opportunities. Valerie also looks forward to opportunities to give back to local schools and teachers with her family’s new restaurant, whether through lunches or mentorship.

1851 Franchise spoke to the couple about their journey into franchising and their plans for the future. 

PROFILE QUESTIONS

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

Abraham: I'm a pilot, currently flying for UPS, and we have managers who we oversee for our business. I'm typically gone for two weeks and then off for two weeks, which is when I will be helping run the business. 

I fly all over the world, and while I was in Hawaii, I went to Teriyaki Madness for the first time. My wife and I had been considering starting our own business for a long time, and after discovering how good the food was and how it seemed to fit the style of our community, we decided to go for it. 

Valerie: I worked for over 16 years in education as a middle school teacher, so I have that quirky personality that enables me to work with middle school kids. 

We were both working professionals, but we wanted to bring more balance to our lives. I'm a 40-year-old mom of a two-year-old and a four-year-old, and my husband travels a lot for work, so it could get really stressful. Franchising seemed like a way we could achieve more flexibility and freedom.

At the same time, I was in a situation where I felt so grateful that I had a great boss; she was so amazing, and I realized I wanted to be that for someone else. Franchising will allow me to give people an opportunity to improve their quality of life as my employees. I can be flexible and understanding with their work schedules, and my family can maximize our time together. 

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?

Abraham: I was opposed to franchising in the past because I had heard horror stories about the percentages you had to pay back to the franchisor. I didn’t want to pay that much. After speaking to different people and researching, I’ve found that the percentage is very fair for the support they provide for marketing and brand awareness. The amount of assistance we have had from the brand has been worth every bit of the franchise fee because it is a difficult learning curve. 

Valerie: I always thought of big franchises like McDonald’s, making me think of corporate America. I never realized at first that different smaller franchises allow access to more people. If you want to own your own business, you can look into the franchise field, even with my background in education, because there is so much support. 

I want people to know that we are a family-owned local business. This is our hometown, and I’ve lived here my entire life. It’s not as impersonal as I once thought. 

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

Abraham: We just really wanted more flexibility and control over our lifestyle, and the food is just great. 

Valerie: The food is amazing and fresh. It was important for us to bring a healthy option to our community, as well. 

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

Abraham: Currently, Teriyaki Madness is capped out on the number of licenses allowed for this area, but if we do well enough, hopefully, the brand will feel inspired to offer more locations near us. We would love to grow. 

Valerie: I joke that this is baby number three for us. It’s ours. We built it and stayed up all night planning it, so it is our baby. If there is a chance to have more locations, we will definitely take advantage of that. 

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

Abraham: We don’t want to just be an employer that is easy to work with. We want to be flexible for our employees and help out our community. When I was in school, I had to work the whole time, and that was challenging. I had to work 40-50 hours to make ends meet and not many of my employers worked around my schedule. Of course we want retention, but we want to encourage upward mobility. 

Valerie: We want to make a positive impact in the community, bringing a culture of joy, care and family. While we have policies and goals, we also want to have a foundation of trust with our employees. 

I also have my background in education, so I know how hard it is for teachers. I want to help the local schools with lunches or somehow help the students. I am just excited to see what we can do with this. 

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

Abraham: Do your research. There is only so much you can do; you have to step into the arena to understand it, but research can help you avoid major landmines. 

Have a realistic perception of what your earnings will be. Teriyaki Madness is good about giving us a realistic expectation of the work involved and the potential income. 

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 135 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 franchisees. Backed by world-class technology including 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.