Gregorys Coffee kicks off franchise push in Old Bridge

The basics:

• Gregorys Coffee begins franchise expansion under Craveworthy Brands
• First franchise open house set for Feb. 17 in Old Bridge
• Founder Gregory Zamfotis remains president following 2025 acquisition
• Expansion targets high-density markets across Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain West, West Coast

After acquiring specialty chain Gregorys Coffee last summer, Craveworthy Brands is ramping up franchising efforts to spur nationwide growth.

As part of that push, the restaurant holding company plans to host its first franchise open house Feb. 17 at Gregorys in Old Bridge from 4–7 p.m.

The event will allow entrepreneurs to taste-test craft coffee, explore the café experience firsthand and connect with the leadership team, according to Craveworthy.

Click here to register for the franchise open house.

Founded in 2006 by Holmdel native Gregory Zamfotis, the brand is known for coffees, teas, scratch-made pastries and unique seasonal items. It is also all-in on healthier options, like clean energy drinks and vegan breakfast sandwiches.

After scaling Gregorys to more than 50 cafés across the U.S., Zamfotis decided the time was right to grow alongside franchisees.

A Craveworthy collection of brands

When Craveworthy purchased Gregorys in August 2025, it said Zamfotis would remain with the company as president. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

As an investor and managing partner for the brand, Craveworthy said it aims to leverage Gregorys’ strong equity and operational foundation to set the stage for the brand’s next chapter of growth. A multi-brand restaurant franchisor and full-stack hospitality platform, the company seeks to help emerging and legacy chains grow through brand revitalization, operational support, franchising and marketing.

Its portfolio of fast-casual and quick-service brands includes:

• Genghis Grill
• BD’s Mongolian Grill
• Wing It On!
• Fresh Brothers Pizza
• Hot Chicken Takeover
• Lucky Cat Poke Co.
• Krafted Smashburgers
• Taim Mediterranean Kitchen
• Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken

Seeking: passionate operators

As a Gregorys franchisee, business owners will have access to expertise across real estate, training, operations, supply chain, culinary, marketing and technology, according to Craveworthy.

Its initial franchise push is focused on high-density, high-opportunity markets where specialty coffee is part of the daily routine, such as urban neighborhoods, commuter hubs, college towns and lifestyle centers. Target markets include the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain West and select West Coast regions.

Craveworthy is seeking experienced multi-unit entrepreneurs, qualified owned-operators and strategic investors.

In a statement, Craveworthy founder and CEO Gregg Majewski said, “In my 30 years in the restaurant industry, the brands that endure start with an excellent product – but even more, they’re built on people, purpose and genuine loyalty. Gregorys has that soul. It is a coffee brand that has stood the test of time, earned a devoted community of ‘Gregulars’ and now has the systems and support in place to expand above and beyond.”

Zamfotis added, “We’ve spent years building Gregorys with intention and care to ensure it stood the test of time before opening the door to franchising.”

He continued, “We wanted to grow in a way that protects what makes Gregorys special – the taste of our coffee, the feel of our experience. With the support of an industry leader, we’re partnering with passionate operators who share that love for the hustle and grind and want to bring something meaningful to their communities.”