From the Bayou to the Bowl: J. Gumbo's fast-casual Cajun restaurant concept has the look of a winner

Nation's Restaurant News,  Dec 10, 2007  

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What do you do when you're a thorough bred horseracing jockey working in Asia and you have a craving for the zesty, one-of-a kind cuisine from your native Louisiana? If you're J. Gumbo's founder, Billy Fox, Jr., you break out the old family recipes and begin cooking up heaping helpings of sausage-rich Jambalaya, cheesy Etouffee, zesty Creole and stick-to-the-ribs Gumbo.

From these humble origins, J. Gumbo's has quickly become a rising star in the fast-casual restaurant category. Currently the company has seven stores located in the Midwest and is aggressively pursuing expansion across the U.S.

GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT

The timing for J. Gumbo's couldn't be better. According to a 2007 survey conducted by the NPD Group for Nation's Restaurant News, male consumers ranked Cajun/Creole as one of the top flavors they'd like to see more of on restaurant menus.

Not only does J. Gumbo's serve the authentic flavors of the Bayou State, they serve them up in style. Heaping portions are served in large "Bayou Bowls" with garlic bread and endless refills on sodas. Most of the stores also carry a wide selection of Louisiana brewed beers.

SIMPLE CONCEPT, COMPLEX FLAVORS

Considering the complexity of the flavors that come out of the J. Gumbo's kitchen, potential franchisees are often surprised by the simplicity of the concept and the minimal equipment requirements.

J. Gumbo's cooks and packages all of its authentic Cajun and Creole menu items at its USDA-approved kitchens, remaining faithful to Billy Fox, Jr.'s proven recipes. This provides consistency across stores and protects the J. Gumbo's brand.

Food orders are shipped fresh to the franchisee's store. The franchisee simply needs to heat and serve--no frying, baking or grilling required.

And because food product is shipped ready-to-serve, J. Gumbo's restaurants don't need a full-service kitchen or staff. This helps keep build-out and labor costs lower.

ALL THE RIGHT PLACES

One of the strengths of the J. Gumbo's concept is that its stores can fit in all kinds of spaces. With its compact footprint and minimal kitchen requirements, franchisees can set up a J. Gumbo's dine-in restaurant in a space as small as 1,300 square feet and in even smaller spaces at food courts and other carry-out venues.

This flexibility makes J. Gumbo's an ideal choice for a variety of locations, including: strip centers, downtown office complexes, mall/airport food courts, entertainment complexes and stand alone restaurants.

EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP

Another one of the operation's strengths is its leadership. J. Gumbo's co-founder and CEO Brian Judd has more than 25 years experience in the industry Judd was the first person hired by Texas Roadhouse, and was instrumental in helping open the chain's first restaurant. He was the first Texas Roadhouse employee to open a franchise, and went on to open 18 franchise restaurants representing more than $63 million in annual revenue.

According to J. Gumbo's President Donald Larose, also a veteran of the franchise industry, the company's management team understands the needs of franchisees. "We've made franchisee relations one of the hallmarks of our business. Every member of our team is dedicated to seeing our franchisees succeed."

The company provides new franchisees with the tools and resources needed to successfully open their J. Gumbo's restaurant, and provides ongoing support and service to help keep their business running smoothly

"One of the reasons I came on board with J. Gumbo's was the simplicity of the concept," said Larose. "From the variety of locations this concept is suited to, to the ease of food preparation, to the inherent fun in a New Orleans style restaurant experience, we really feel this concept is poised to be the next big thing."

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Company Name:   J. Gumbo's (Gumbo Development, LLC)
Contact:        Randy Burzynski, Director of Franchising
Address:        131 E. Court Avenue, Suite 101 Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Phone:          (812) 284-2753 Ext. 212
Fax:            (812) 282-1336
Email:          randyb@jgumbos.com
Website:        www.jgumbos.com
Years
Established:    2
Number of
Current Units:  7 open, 3 under development
Area of
Operations:     National

Looking to Expand Into the following Regions: All

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning