The Great Franchisee: Paula Creamer and Shane Kennedy, Teriyaki Madness, Orlando

12-time LPGA Tour winner Paula Creamer and her fiance Shane Kennedy, a former Minnesota Twins second-baseman, are among the newest franchisees with Teriyaki Madness, a 75-plus unit Seattle-style teriyaki restaurant franchise that is establishing new locations in markets across the U.S. at a rapid clip.

Creamer and Kennedy first learned about Teriyaki Madness during a golf tournament in Texas. Kennedy says the couple ate the majority of their meals at the restaurant during the week-long tournament, and by the end of the trip, they decided the concept needed to be introduced to their home city of Orlando.

After a three-year stint in professional baseball, Kennedy took up a second career in real estate, and he says he drew from his experience in that industry to select locations around the greater Orlando area for three new Teriyaki Madness restaurants that he and Creamer plan to open, the first of which is set to open this month.

We spoke to Kennedy to learn more about the couple’s decision to join the fast-growing teriyaki franchise.

1851 Franchise: What did you do before franchising?

Shane Kennedy: I played college baseball at Clemson University and then went on to play professional baseball for three years. I bounced around a few teams but the most recent team I played for was the Minnesota Twins, and I was there for about a year. My family is in the real estate industry, and I currently buy homes to flip and sell in Windermere.

1851: How did you initially find out about Teriyaki Madness? 

Kennedy: I found out about Teriyaki Madness because my fiance, Paula Creamer, plays professional golf. As a 12 time LPGA Tour Winner, she had a tournament in Texas and we were there for a week. Teriyaki Madness happened to be down the road from the tournament, and we loved the food so much we ate there for the majority of our week-long trip. We decided Oviedo needed a Teriyaki Madness, too. 

1851: What types of brands did you look at?

Kennedy: I was all in on Teriyaki Madness and only looked at that brand. 

1851: Why did you choose Teriyaki Madness? What excited you most about the potential?

Kennedy: Paula and I are huge foodies, and we became quick fans of Teriyaki Madness. Orlando has every restaurant you could think of but not Teriyaki Madness. We were confident that the brand would work out really well in Orlando. With Teriyaki Madness, I was able to combine my love for food and passion for real estate as I am being really strategic about where my three locations will be. I’m very excited for the growth of the business and love the idea of getting into something while it’s young and going through an expansion period. 

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Kennedy: Right now, I’m focusing on the Oviedo location, but I’d like to form a triangle of Teriyaki Madness locations in greater Orlando with two more locations in Winter Park and Hamlin. 

1851: What value do you see your business providing to Oviedo?

Kennedy: The Oviedo community used to be a lot less lively. The University of Central Florida has become one of the largest universities in the country, and with Oviedo nearby, the community is up and coming. Oviedo is now very trendy and young with a good spirit to it. There are a lot of name brand restaurants and others people haven’t even heard of before. Between the trendiness of Teriyaki Madness and the attitude of the brand, it fits in well in Oviedo. 

1851: Do you have any grand opening event plans?

Kennedy: We don’t have plans solidified yet, but Paula and I have strong ties in the sports world and plan on inviting local Orlando professional athletes to our grand opening. 

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Kennedy: Make sure you find a brand that has a lot of support. I’ve never been in the restaurant industry, but I loved how involved the Teriyaki Madness team has been. If you’re going to do it, then go for it. Real estate is key and if you’re not in a good spot, the product won’t sell. Take some risks to get the reward. 

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Kennedy: I enjoy working out regularly, playing golf with Paula and going on ski trips. 

ABOUT TERIYAKI MADNESS

Fast-casual teriyaki shop franchise Teriyaki Madness is committed to unconditionally satisfying guests by offering delicious, made-to-order, healthy (or not) bowls, apps and sides, prepared with fresh, all-natural ingredients served quickly and at a reasonable price. Guests can enjoy their bowls in the shop, or order through the mobile app for delivery or curbside pickup. Teriyaki Madness has been ranked on Entrepreneur’s Top Food Franchises and FastCasual’s Movers and Shakers in 2019, and the Inc. 5000 list for three straight years. Founded in 2003, the brand currently has franchise agreements in place for nearly 250 shops across the U.S., with franchising opportunities nationwide for qualified single and multi-unit candidates. For more information, visit www.franchise.teriyakimadness.com.