business
Young Adults Open Bang Cookies, Graze Craze, and 16 Handles Franchise Locations
Millennials and Gen Z operators are buying restaurant franchises, citing training, support, and lower risk than independent startups. Several have opened locations or are preparing second stores.
Jun 13, 4:11 AM·2m read1 source
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Kugan Suppiah, 24, persuaded his parents to invest in a Bang Cookies franchise in Oklahoma City. The University of Oklahoma graduate is now 25 and scouting locations for a second store. Suppiah pitched and implemented a curbside pickup window at the Oklahoma City location.
Bang Cookies co-owner Corey Bonalewicz joined him at the grand opening, along with Ganes Suppiah, George Kuan, and JoJo Cipriano. Amaan Bhanji, 22, opened a Graze Craze franchise in Arlington, Virginia, in 2024. He began planning the store during his senior year of high school and spent two years locating a site, managing buildout, and completing franchise training.
Two 30-year-old finance professionals in Brooklyn opened a 16 Handles location last summer while keeping their day jobs. The pair is preparing to open a second store. More than half of current and incoming 16 Handles franchisees are millennials, according to company executives.
Chicken Salad Chick executives report a surge in younger franchise candidates, and Gong Cha reports growing interest from younger prospects. Andrew Titus, 29 and president of United Franchise Group, said many franchisees historically were in their 40s or 50s. Titus said he now encounters owners closer to his own age.
Ashleigh Ewald, a 23-year-old public policy graduate student and entrepreneur, said Gen Z is less focused on traditional paths and more interested in independence and ownership. Suppiah said he was drawn to Bang Cookies because the brand was young enough for franchisees to influence its direction. He added that he is interested in eventually opening something of his own.
Bhanji said he had no experience building and launching a business and that collaborating with United Franchise Group provided the tools and training he needed. He used savings from jobs held since middle school, family support, and financing to open the store. Bhanji said he has many aspirations and is open to continuing with franchise ownership as well as other ventures.
