DALLAS — Red Mango has announced record franchise development during the first quarter of 2009 as development deals with existing and new franchisees will result in some 128 new Red Mango stores to be added to the franchise network over several years. The agreements include further expansion in California and Illinois as well as entry into Texas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas and Tennessee.
- A California agreement with existing multiunit franchise owner Yul Kwon, of San Mateo, Calif., awards him the rights to open an additional 46 stores. Kwon, who owns five Red Mango stores, is a reality TV celebrity and winner of the highly-rated "Survivor" show.
- Franchisee John Park, of Northbrook, Ill., who owns three existing Red Mango locations in Evanston, Oak Brook and Naperville, with three more stores under development, recently signed a multi-state agreement to expand throughout the Midwest. Red Mango awarded Park the rights to open a total of 75 Red Mango stores in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas and Tennessee.
- Red Mango has also awarded its first agreement for Texas. Ramiro Valadez III, of San Antonio, signed a development agreement to build six Red Mango stores. The first location in San Antonio is already under construction and scheduled to open by June.
- Red Mango also has announced its first franchise agreement in Massachusetts. Sean Kim and Kalin Bae, of SEKA LLC, will open the first Boston store for Red Mango later this summer. Both are certified jewelers and gemologists, and Kim has managed eight jewelry stores in the greater Boston area for his family.
To address the growing number of inquiries and further Red Mango's expansion plans, the company will host a series of franchise growth information seminars beginning in New York on May 4 and Dallas on May 11.
