Sarku Japan Seeks To Move From Food Courts To Standalone Franchises

Ask Sam Oh why he decided to open a franchise, and he'll tell you it was his aunt's idea.

"She has six noodle stores in Korea, and one day she said, ‘You know, you should open a restaurant,'" Oh said. "She said, ‘You'll be playing golf all day. You won't have to work anymore.'" 0 Comments Weigh In Corrections? Personal Post The 37-year-old quit his advertising job and began his search. In June, he opened a Sarku Japan franchise in Capitol Heights.

"There's been great demand for quick-service food," Oh said, adding that 70 percent of his sales come from serving chicken teriyaki. "We get all sorts of people: factory workers, high school kids � 60 percent of my customers, I see everyday." As shopping malls struggle to stay afloat, Sarku Japan, long a staple of food courts around the country, is following in the footsteps of chains such as Chick-fil-A and Panda Express and expanding to standalone franchises.

The company currently has three franchises in the Washington area, with plans to open at least three more by the end of the year.

"We want as many good locations as we can find," said Frank Miller, director of real estate for the Ontario-based company. "The mall business may not be growing anymore, but there's no limit in opportunity for street stores." Last week, Sarku Japan held an information session to recruit local franchisees.

Nine people attended. They included a retired environmental engineer, a 40-year-old who sells designer hats and the owner of a Chinese buffet.

"When Sarku started in 1987, nobody could even pronounce ‘teriyaki,'" Bruce Kim, assistant vice president of franchising, told the audience.

"Now even all-American beef jerky comes in teriyaki flavor." He picked up a package of beef jerky for emphasis. "Everyone likes this stuff." Kim's presentation was part-business pitch, part-motivational speech.

Only one percent of people act on their dreams, he told the crowd. His PowerPoint slides said things such as "Take action!" and "Be bold and seize the opportunity!" The total cost for starting a Sarku Japan franchise ranges from $283,000 to $562,000, according to company figures. There is a one-time franchise fee of $30,000, and a 6 percent royalty on all sales.

"It takes time to build a brand, build a reputation," said Deepak Shrestha, who is in the process of securing real estate for a Sarku Japan franchise in the area. "With a franchise, the company has already done their homework. They've proven that their concept works." Leslie Mensah, who lives in Baltimore, attended the seminar and signed up for a follow-up interview. He said he hopes to open a Sarku Japan franchise either near National Harbor or somewhere in the District.

"I'm definitely going to pursue this," Mensah said. "It sounds very flexible, very comfortable."

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