Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Lewis.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Press Waffle Company was born out of pure passion for the product. Before there was ever a business, there was a love for waffles. When I was traveling across Europe with my fiance in the summer of 2013, I encountered the Liege waffle for the first time. After eating them all summer long (and gaining a lot of weight!), we wanted to share these heavenly treats with everyone at our wedding. Upon returning to Dallas, we could not find them anywhere, and our caterer could not re-create the magic we had experienced abroad.
So, just as a hobby, I set out to do it on my own. I tinkered in the kitchen for over a year before I felt like I had perfected the recipe. At that point, I simply said, “I’ve got to share this with people!”
When my brother, Caleb, moved home from college, we began dreaming and planning for a waffle business and after a successful Kickstarter Campaign, finally founded Press Waffle Co. as a food truck in 2016.
Press Waffle Co. opened its first permanent storefront in late 2017 in Legacy Hall and now operates 4 company-owned stores, with plans for more this year.
In March, our company was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, where we made a deal with Barbara Corcoran to expand our company. With her help and all of the great attention we have received from the show, we have launched our franchise program and are looking for great partners all across the country to get our waffles in the hands of as many people as possible.
Has it been a smooth road?
We have had some hits and misses. Our food truck and our first shop in Plano were massively successful and that is really what gave us the vision for expansion. After opening multiple shops, what we do well is operations. We have great managers and employees, a great training program, and a consistent quality product. But in the restaurant business, location is everything and I think we made some mis-steps in the site selection of our 2nd and 3rd store. So when you have 50% greatness and 50% mediocrity, you start to ask yourself, which one is the fluke? We believe in our product and our company and still feel like there is huge opportunity for us. We just need to take what we have learned from less productive locations and use that to inform our decisions moving forward.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Press Waffle Co. – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We specialize in fully customizable authentic Belgian sugar waffles. Our waffles are different than what most Americans have ever experienced, and we give them the option to deck out their waffle just the way they like it from our toppings like sweet sauces, house-made whipped cream, fresh-cut fruits, and ice cream. We also offer savory selections like chicken and waffles and our monte cristo waffle sandwich.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
My brother and I were born and raised in Richardson. I went to SMU and moved back to Richardson where I now live with my wife and kids. I love that Dallas is big enough that there are essentially cities within the city. Every part of Dallas and its suburbs has its own vibe and its own community. I think what I like least is that because it is so big, each of those different areas is not super accessible. I love the Bishop Arts area, but it would be like an hour and a half round trip for my wife and I to go to dinner down there, so we almost never do.
Pricing:
- $6-12
Contact Info:
- Address: Inside Legacy Hall
7800 Windrose Ave.
Plano, TX 75024 - Website: www.presswaffleco.com
- Email: eat@presswaffleco.com
- Instagram: @presswaffleco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/presswaffleco
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/press-waffle-co-plano-5
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