Retired 9/11 First Responder and Airline Pilot Partner to Bring Teriyaki Madness to Northern Florida

David Patrick and Robert Garnecki are set to bring the taste of Teriyaki Madness to St. Johns, Florida. Patrick, a pilot with American Airlines and military veteran, previously ran two successful Jimmy John's franchises. Meanwhile, Garnecki served as a police officer in New Jersey for over 25 years and was one of the early responders during the 9/11 attacks. The duo, bonded by their shared visions for the future, decided to venture into the world of franchising together, opting for a brand that offered a unique flavor profile absent in their local Florida market — the Japanese-inspired teriyaki franchise Teriyaki Madness (TMAD).

Patrick's past franchise experience and his affinity for the proven process and system inherent in the franchising model played a key role in their decision. However, it was the distinctiveness of the Teriyaki Madness food that sealed the deal. As Patrick observed, "There are plenty of burger, chicken, and sandwich shops around, but no teriyaki." The shared belief that "you gotta like what you sell" and their personal love for teriyaki made TMAD an ideal choice.

Both Patrick and Garnecki were impressed by TMAD's preparedness and adaptability during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the brand's innovative app, which aligned perfectly with the behaviors of their target demographic. TMAD's lower operational requirements, needing fewer staff than many other food franchises, was another aspect that made the brand stand out as an attractive business prospect.

The duo has signed on to open three TMAD units in North Florida, with the first one set to open at 140 Little Cyprus Road, Suite 106, in St. Johns in late June 2023. Looking ahead, Patrick and Garnecki are excited to lead in a true teriyaki revolution in their community. 

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

Patrick: I’ve been a pilot at American Airlines for 35 years. Prior to and concurrent with the airline job, I was in the military for 31 years. About 12 years ago, I opened two Jimmy John’s franchises when I was living in Southern Illinois. I had some pretty good success with those, but when Uncle Sam thought it was time to send me to Iraq again for six months, and my wife was pregnant with twins, I ended up selling both locations. 

When we moved to Florida a few years ago, I met my partner Rob Garnecki, who is a retired police officer from New Jersey. We hit it off and became good friends. We have kids about the same age. We started having coffee every morning, talking about business ideas for the future. 

We originally thought about bringing Jimmy John’s down here, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we started looking at other franchises as I wasn’t sure this was the right spot. We both love the TMAD food, and we knew there was nothing like it down here. There are plenty of burger and sandwich shops, but no teriyaki. I’ve never talked to anybody who doesn’t like teriyaki. You gotta like what you sell. 

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?

Patrick: I like the fact that franchises have a proven process and system in place. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. I’ve seen what that royalty upfront gets you at a franchise like Jimmy John’s. If you follow the systems, you will succeed. I feel more strongly about that now after having already done it once. 

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

Patrick: TMAD has a great system in place. When COVID-19 hit, the big brands weren’t ready for it and they had to adapt quickly. But a brand like TMAD was very innovative and had a forward-thinking team. They had a good idea of what we needed to do in terms of a mobile app. The demographics we cater to are going to look at their phone for a meal before going into a restaurant in person. The strength of the TMAD app is a big reason we signed on. That, along with the food, keeps people coming back. 

Also, it is so hard to get anybody to come to work nowadays. At Jimmy John's, I had to have 10 people on staff to operate during a lunch rush. But TMAD requires less employees, which translates into lower operating costs. I like the fact that you can run it smoothly on a smaller employee headcount. 

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

Patrick: We have signed on for three units. We want to get this one underway before we sign leases for the other two, but we are already looking. We want to keep them close to each other. We hope the first one will be positive cash flow fairly quickly. This is a new development where we are located, with over 1,000 apartment units within walking distance and a very high traffic count, so we are confident it is a great fit for Teriyaki Madness. 

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

Patrick: Rob was a responder during 9/11 and was a police officer for over 25 years in New Jersey. He moved down here after retirement. As partners, we both have the same mindset toward operating the business. When we talked to the TMAD team at Denver, it was very obvious that we were very agreeable together as partners. We will run the business along the same line. 

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

Patrick: When you sign up with a franchise, you need to dissect the financial disclosure before you can even know what questions to ask. Talk to somebody else that is in the business already. It is a whole lot of work to run a business, and you may be surprised by what is required in the day-to-day operation. We all see it from in front of the counter, but you need to know what goes on in the back of the house. You need to have a good handle on both the business side and the operations side. 

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.