Amol Kohli’s journey started in 2003 when he worked as a waiter at a Friendly’s in the Philadelphia area. At the time, he was a high school sophomore, eager to make extra money.
He was paid about $5 an hour, and his role involved doing everything from cooking to dishwashing to bussing tables. Kohli’s job was not limited to waiting tables, he did whatever his manager needed.
Two decades later, he has come full circle. On July 22, Kohli’s investment group, Legacy Brands, announced that they had bought Friendly’s, the entire chain, and its parent company, Brix Holdings, along with several other restaurant brands.
Amol Kohli’s business
While studying finance and marketing at Drexel University, Kohli continued to work at Friendly’s during his summers. He was more than just an employee; he began learning about the inner workings of the business.
Kohli recalls helping franchisees and getting involved in areas like payroll, food costs, and insurance. He believes this hands-on experience was invaluable.
After graduating in 2011, he chose to stay with Friendly’s rather than pursue a career in finance. Kohli’s commitment to the brand led him to become a regional manager.
In time, he took the leap to own a Friendly’s location, which required significant investment and support from friends and business partners. From there, Kohli’s franchising journey took off, eventually leading him to own 31 Friendly’s locations.
Acquiring Brix Holdings
Kohli’s path to becoming the owner of Friendly’s was not without its hurdles. The pandemic hit Friendly’s hard, leading the company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020. Shortly after, Brix Holdings acquired the brand.
But Kohli was not ready to give up on the company. In May 2023, he formed Legacy Brands International to acquire Brix Holdings. The deal, funded through a mix of equity and debt financing, was a result of years of hard work and strategic planning.
Now, Kohli owns over 250 restaurant locations, including other brands like Clean Juice and Red Mango. However, he acknowledges the challenge ahead: reviving Friendly’s brand in a competitive industry with shrinking locations.
His goal is to modernise the restaurants with technology and attract new franchisees. Kohli also wants to show that working in the food service industry can be a legitimate career, not just a temporary job.
Many of his executives started in entry-level positions, and Kohli sees his own rise from waiter to owner as proof that anyone can work their way up in the restaurant business.