Q: Where are you originally from?A: I live in White Plains now and grew up in Hastings, which is along the Hudson River.
Q: Before Franchising, what were you involved with?
A: I am attorney, still practicing. I’ve been practicing law for 19 years in the bankruptcy and real estate sectors. About three years ago, I started looking at ways to expand my portfolio. I am an entrepreneur at heart and I wanted to grow a business that was my own. I took over the Desert Moon in White Plains in 2008 after I found out it was for sale. I thought Mexican food would be a great segment to be involved with as it’s one of the fastest growing food segments in the nation and Desert Moon was my niece’s favorite restaurant. Since purchasing Desert Moon, I have added two other food concepts to my portfolio.
Q: Why was this brand the right fit for you?
A: It all came down to the quality and freshness of the food. When you have a good product, people will naturally come and I felt passionate that Desert Moon was the right choice based on that criteria. Fortunately my gut instinct was right. My location is in the mall and it is one of the most popular choices among mall shoppers. People often reference how fresh our food is compared to other mall food court options. Desert Moon gives mall shoppers a healthy alternative. This year we will probably install the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, which will offer customers a wide selection of beverage options. Desert Moon corporately is also focused on helping its franchisees explore new innovations for their locations, which was another reason I felt comfortable being a franchisee with the brand.
Q: How do you see the brand connecting with your local community?
A: I make it a point to contribute to local nonprofits that approaches us for a donation. I believe it’s valuable for Desert Moon to be ingrained in the community and for Desert Moon to be synonymous with community involvement. I plan on sponsoring a little league team this year as well.
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