Franchising
Fajita Pete's inks 10-store deal for Dallas
May 13, 2021
Thanks to an agreement with a trio of Texas entrepreneurs, Houston-based Fajita Pete's will open 10 locations in Dallas' northern suburbs later this year.
David Howell, Richard Howell and Pat "Wheels" Smith, who own G&S Business, have experience with fast casual brands, including as a franchisee of Georgia-based Zaxby's. David Howell has served as an executive leader of Austin's Hat Creek Burger Company, and Richard Howell is a former board member of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, according to a company press release.
G&S Business decided to partner with Fajita Pete's after Smith picked up an order of fajitas for dinner during a family visit to Dallas. When he returned to Austin, he told David and Richard Howell about the concept and was emphatic about finding a way to franchise with Fajita Pete's.
"Fajita Pete's is poised for incredible growth because the concept embodies authentic quality while keeping maximum efficiency, from the menu to the build-out," David Howell said in the release. "Further, it is ahead of its time in focusing on off-premise sales channels in a scaled-down box — it is truly innovative and will continue to be so."
The first G&S-owned and -operated Fajita Pete's location will open in December in Plano, followed by a March 2022 location in Frisco. The third will open in June 2022 in McKinney, and others will follow in Allen, Prosper and Richardson, bringing the total number of Fajita Pete's in greater Dallas to 22.
"G&S Business came to us after they experienced our food and service model in Dallas and immediately wanted to be part of the brand," Fajita Pete's Founder and CEO Pedro "Pete" Mora said in the release. "They are the ideal franchise partner because they are experienced, successful multi-unit operators who understand and are passionate about the Fajita Pete's brand. Coming off of our highest-ever sales day on Cinco de Mayo, where we did $134,000 across 20 units, we could not be more excited about the future of our brand, and G&S will play a big part in that future."
Fajita Pete's has 21 locations open, with agreements in place for nearly 50 new restaurants. The company is pursuing additional development deals with qualified teams in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, Arizona, Mississippi, Alabama and New Mexico, according to the release.
