Empires

Jay Diedrich, co-founder and CEO of Ace Pickleball Club, breaks down the business behind the pickleball boom. We discuss why clubs are struggling despite the sport’s popularity, how high rents and unrealistic revenue projections are hurting operators, and why Ace paused franchising. Jay also shares Ace’s expansion into media and why he remains optimistic about pickleball’s future - even as he predicts a major industry shakeout.

OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires

CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR BUSINESS?https://www.empirespod.com/for-multi-unit-owners

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com

Kayla went from working at Quiznos at 16 to helping Mike’s Red Tacos sell hundreds of franchises—and then buying a majority stake in a multi-unit portfolio spanning Arby’s, McAlister’s, and Little Caesars. We discuss her move from franchise sales to ownership, turning around a struggling restaurant group, and building Red Door Brands into an operating partner for other franchisees.

OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires

Learn about Red Door Brands: https://www.reddoorbrandsllc.com/

--CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR BUSINESS?https://www.empirespod.com/for-multi-unit-owners

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com

Bron Launsby shares how he went from an initially skeptical franchise prospect to building a nine-location Sky Zone portfolio in under a decade. He explains why trampoline parks offered unusually attractive economics, how he kept locations relevant through constant reinvestment and new attractions, and why he ultimately sold the entire portfolio in 2024.

Bron then tells the origin story of Slick City, an indoor entertainment concept built around dry slides. After installing an early slide prototype inside one of his trampoline parks, he saw it become one of the location’s most popular attractions. That insight led him to partner with slide inventor Gary Schmidt, invest in the manufacturing company behind the technology, and develop a completely new concept supported by nearly 70 patents.

The conversation explores Slick City’s rapid growth from one location to nearly 50 in four years, along with its striking unit economics: the first three locations averaged just under $5 million in annual revenue with EBITDA margins around 40%. Bron also breaks down the business’s revenue mix, massive facilities, staffing requirements, safety systems, franchisee investment requirements, and strategy for continually introducing new attractions. Finally, he discusses Slick City’s international expansion and its potential to support 400–600 locations in the United States and approximately 150 across Europe.

OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires

CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR BUSINESS?https://www.empirespod.com/for-multi-unit-owners

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com

Rick Vanzura draws on a career spanning Borders, Panera, Wahlburgers, GameStop, and GrowthFactor to explain why certain brick-and-mortar brands thrive while others lose their way. He breaks down Cava’s advantage over Sweetgreen and Chipotle, how Panera “optimized itself to death,” and why the majority of value in restaurants accrues to the category winner.

Rick also shares remarkable stories from his career, including Borders turning down an agreement that would have included 5% of Amazon and working closely with Mark Wahlberg to scale Wahlburgers. The conversation closes with Rick’s framework for developing emerging restaurant concepts, choosing great locations, scaling without compromising the brand, and why aspiring restaurateurs should prioritize becoming an exceptional 100-unit business over an average 1,000-unit chain.

OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires

CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR BUSINESS?https://www.empirespod.com/for-multi-unit-owners

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com

Sean Thomas is the grandson of legendary Wendy's founder Dave Thomas. Today, Sean not only owns multiple Wendy's locations, but he is also the co-founder of his own chicken and dirty soda chain, Minnie Bird.

OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires--CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR BUSINESS?https://www.empirespod.com/for-multi-unit-owners

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com

Charles Bonfiglio, founder and CEO of Tint World, shares how he went from growing up in his father’s Brooklyn clothing factory to becoming one of Meineke’s top franchisees and eventually building Tint World into a national franchise system. He explains how he learned franchising from the operator side, why he bought Tint World, and how he spent years refining the model before accelerating growth. Charles also breaks down his approach to leadership, unit economics, marketing, and why he ultimately brought on a private equity partner after decades of bootstrapping. Today, Tint World has more than 150 locations, with Charles aiming for 500 units within five years.

OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires--BUY OR SELL FRANCHISES WITH OUR TEAM:

https://www.empirespod.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com

Eliot McDonald went from Raising Cane's shift manager to founding his own chicken tender concept. We discuss everything about chicken tenders & QSR, and how his restaurant chain is doing thus farOPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires--BUY OR SELL FRANCHISES WITH OUR TEAM: https://www.empirespod.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com

Andrea Huerta has been operating franchises since she was a teenager, starting as a crew member in her parents McDonald’s location. After helping her family grow a portfolio of El Pollo Loco locations, Andrea decided to go all in on Handel’s Ice Cream. Handel’s might just be the top ice cream business in America on a per unit basis, and Andrea shares everything there is to know about this concept, including her current economics.

OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires

BUY OR SELL FRANCHISES WITH OUR TEAM: https://www.empirespod.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com

Harsh Ghai is one of the largest Burger King franchise owners in America. He's also one of, if not the, largest family owned franchisee with over 250 locations across Burger King, Taco Bell, & Popeye's. We discuss the Burger King comeback, as well his lessons operating over multiple decades....OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empiresBUY OR SELL FRANCHISES WITH OUR TEAM: https://www.empirespod.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com

Jay Rushin, owner of H&H Bagels, joins the podcast to break down the rise of the bagel category, why H&H has taken a different path from venture-backed competitors, and how the brand is scaling its New York bagel model through franchising. He shares the story behind acquiring H&H, rebuilding the business, launching breakfast sandwiches, building a Queens production facility, and creating a franchise model designed to bring authentic New York bagels across the country.

FOR MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISE OWNERS CONSIDERING SELLING:https://www.empirespod.com/for-multi-unit-ownersWEEKLY FRANCHISE NEWSLETTER:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com