Community Corner

Amsterdam Falafelshop Eyes Tysons Corner as Part of Aggressive Expansion

The late-night Adams Morgan hotspot hopes to open multiple franchises in Northern Virginia.

By Jason Spencer

Attention bar crawlers and restless restauranteurs: Amsterdam Falafelshop has its sights set on multiple Northern Virginia locations as part of an aggressive franchise expansion beyond its Adams Morgan home.

"We've been doing a lot of expansion in DC, so we felt like Arlington and Northern Virginia are sort of a natural extension of that," CEO Arianne Bennett told Patch. "We get a lot of customers who come from Northern Virginia — folks who say, 'I drove all the way here just for this.' "

Find out what's happening in Tysons Cornerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bennett, who founded the popular late-night, top-it-yourself falafel shop with her husband in 2004, said she expects at least one Arlington location to be open within a year.

The company is talking with potential franchisees to launch a shop in Reston, she said. The owner of the restaurant's recently opened shop in Annapolis, Md., already has the rights to place an Amsterdam Falafelshop in Tysons Corner. Bennett also mentioned Alexandria has part of the next phase of a targeted expansion, and she said dedicated customers who bring their entire families up from Manassas would love to see a shop there. 

Find out what's happening in Tysons Cornerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Amsterdam Falafelshop, which offers more than 20 toppings customers can add by the scoop and compliments its sandwiches with Dutch-style fries, this summer announced that two new locations are in the works in the district in addition to new shops in Annapolis and outside of Boston.

“We created a movement in D.C. that reflects our quirkiness, and we’re incredibly excited about extending it to other great American cities,” Bennett said in a statement. “You will not find a restaurant concept with the food and environment that we offer, and that is why we have fans around the world. We’ve done our homework and it is clear that restaurant franchise investors are jonesing for what we’re cooking.”

The broader expansion plans target metro areas up and down the East Coast, along with markets in Chicago, Ohio and Texas.

With a simple menu and affordable fare, the company sees the falafel's appeal as becoming widespread thanks to an increasing number of European and Middle Eastern tourists and U.S. servicemen and women who became fans during their tours. Over the past 15 years, sales of hummus — which is made from chickpeas, the primary ingredient in falafel — have increased 4,000 percent to about $200 million, according to the shop's website.

A recent news release announcing the expansion plans is written for potential franchisees as much as it is customers.

"It’s 3 a.m. and you have an insatiable craving. Your stomach is turning and the room begins to spin. You’ve reached your limit and need relief," it states. "Chances are you’ve got an extreme case of munchies after a long night out…OR, if you’re a multi-unit restaurant operator, the instability of your portfolio has overcome you with anxiety and you’re in need of a high-performing concept."

And, it notes, franchise shops are independently owned and operated. Interested entrepreneurs need between $365,000 and $493,000 in working capital, which includes the $29,500 franchise fee.

Bennett told Patch the company is looking for "visionaries" to launch its franchise operations, which she said isn't an easy thing to do. Successful entrepreneurs can't be stuck in a 1980s mindset, she said.

"You have to fit into the community. It's not like you're just dropping a Subway in there," she said.

She chuckled and added, "Not that there's anything wrong with Subway."

Visit Amsterdam Falafelshop's website to learn more about franchise opportunities. 


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