Zebu Forno Franchisee Signs Lease For Hoboken Site; European-Style Bakery and Cafe Expects to Open in Early 2008
HOBOKEN, N.J., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Hoboken’s restaurant scene will soon be getting a touch of old-style Europe, when Zebu Forno brings its bakery and cafe concept to River Street.
The New Jersey chain’s Teaneck-based franchisee Gallucci Associates has signed a lease for a 2,500-square-foot space on the ground floor of Marineview Plaza, a five-story office building at River and First Streets. Zebu-which offers fare for the morning, afternoon and evening day-parts-expects to open at the site in the first quarter of 2008, joining Citibank and Subway on the building’s street level.
Hoboken will be the third restaurant for the Red Bank-based Zebu, whose network currently includes a company-owned location that opened in 2001 in downtown Red Bank and a franchised location at The Commons at Holmdel lifestyle center that was unveiled earlier this year. Both prior locations are approximately 3,000 square feet.
“The Hoboken store will be a reflection of our ability to adapt our format to smaller urban spaces,” said Andrew Gennusa, president of Zebu Forno Franchise LLC. “Our intent here is to create a space that mirrors the eclectic look and feel of our downtown Red Bank location. Urban sites are an important part of our strategy to build a regional chain of 15 to 20 locations in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania over the next five years, and we will re-tool our prototype when necessary to capitalize on downtowns that offer the steady stream of day and night-time traffic on which our concept thrives.”
Zebu Forno’s menu includes fresh-baked breads, muffins, bagels, and pastries; breakfast sandwiches; omelets; homemade soups; Panini sandwiches, wraps and other hot and cold sandwiches served on home-baked breads; handmade thin-crust pizzas; fresh salads; quiche; gelato; fresh fruit cups; espresso drinks; a variety of coffees and teas; and a soft drink selection that includes Boylan’s soda on tap. All menu items are available for takeout, augmented by a selection of fresh-baked goods, Zebu travel mugs and other branded items merchandised throughout the stores.
The chain’s locations are designed to convey a sense of a ‘town gathering place’-a relaxed setting where people of all ages can meet and sit for hours without feeling pressured. Features include free Wi-Fi, flat screen TVs, satellite music, brick walls, wood plank flooring, original murals celebrating great artists of the past, and seating at conventional tables, stool-height tables and in groupings of Indonesian roll back easy chairs.
Zebu’s Hoboken location will be owned and operated by northern New Jersey foodservice industry veterans Gallucci Associates. Through its primary entity, Suzon Dining Services, Gallucci currently operates corporate dining facilities in Bergen and Essex counties, including the headquarters buildings of Columbia Bank and Kearny Federal Savings. Although Gallucci’s initial franchise agreement covers a single unit, Jeff Gallucci, the company’s president and a 10-year veteran of the foodservice industry, noted that he hopes to explore opportunities for additional Zebu locations after the Hoboken unit has opened.
Gallucci Associates was founded in 1985 by construction and development industry veteran Glen Gallucci. In addition to corporate food management services, the firm’s holdings included Soup’s On, a retailer and wholesale purveyor of high-end soups, whose accounts included such specialty grocers as Balducci’s, Burke & Burke, Dean & Deluca, and Gracies Market Place. Jeff Gallucci joined his father’s company in 1997. Since that time, he has worked in all areas of the business, from manning the counter to menu planning, purchasing, facility design and managing on-site teams. He was named president in 2002 and was subsequently joined in the business by brothers Paul and Michael.
“Like our first franchisee in Holmdel, Jeff Gallucci epitomizes our intention to selectively build Zebu Forno into a strong regional brand through a program that focuses on experienced, hands-on operators who are passionate about the business,” said Gennusa.
For Zebu Forno franchise information, visit the company’s website, www.zebuforno.com.
SOURCE Zebu Forno
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