Al Bhakta, president and CEO of Genghis Grill Franchise Concepts LP, and Mark Brezinski, founder of Bengal Coast Restaurants LP, have announced the formation of a joint venture to develop a new fast casual Asian restaurant called Bistro BabuSan - Fresh Asian Fusion.
Brezinski was one of the co-founding partners of Pei Wei Asian Diner before branching out and creating Bengal Coast, a south Asian fusion restaurant featuring both full service and fast casual service in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas. Bhakta and his Chalak Group were original franchisees of Genghis Grill before purchasing the company in 2004 and growing it to the current level of 41 restaurants. Both companies are based in Dallas.
"This is a very exciting time for all of us, and we are very grateful to Al and his team for their optimism and interest in what we have created," Brezinski said. "I believe that my own team has worked very hard at proving the viability of this cuisine in what has been a very challenging time in a highly competitive market. We are poised to apply the lessons we have learned these past few years, and I am very comfortable developing Bistro BabuSan in the fast casual segment, a segment I have been in for over 10 years."
Bhakta said the goal is to open the first restaurant together in the spring of 2010 and assess how best to co-determine its future.
"Our shared opinion is that there is a great future in this segment and that a broader Asian cuisine gives us a real advantage in the fast casual niche," he said.
The name BabuSan is a blend of Asian terms for endearment or respect for others.
