Webinar/Podcast
Mark Greenblatt with Barry Bagels
Welcome to the Corner Booth!
Join host Chris Tripoli and guests for a podcast for anyone who is starting a restaurant business, growing an independent restaurant business, or dreaming about starting an independent restaurant business.
Learn from successful restaurateurs who share their stories WHY they got into the business and HOW they created and built their winning concepts.
Corner Booth is a production of RestaurantOwner.com.
So grab your favorite beverage, have a seat, and listen in!
Mark Greenblatt, Chief Operating Officer of Barry Bagels, joins Chris Tripoli on Corner Booth to share how a family-run bakery evolved into a growing franchise brand without losing operational discipline. Having grown inside the business and later stepping into leadership, Mark brings a long‑term operator perspective shaped by decades of hands‑on experience across production, expansion, and franchise support.
The conversation centers on the decisions required to build a scalable franchise growth strategy. Mark explains how Barry’s focused first on strengthening operational systems and expanding gradually from its strongest markets, rather than pursuing rapid national growth. This deliberate approach allowed the brand to build confidence in execution, supply chain relationships, and training before adding geographic complexity.
The episode also explores how Barry’s diversified revenue and adapted its model to changing consumer behavior. Operating as a multi-daypart concept reduced reliance on breakfast traffic, while catering, retail, and wholesale production created multiple revenue streams that supported stability. As occupancy costs and off‑premise demand increased, the brand adjusted its footprint using a hub-and‑spoke approach, reinforcing restaurant footprint optimization without sacrificing product quality. Throughout the discussion, Mark emphasizes that thoughtful growth depends on selecting the right franchise partners, maintaining system discipline, and aligning expansion decisions with long‑term brand health.
Key Takeaways
Controlled expansion builds stronger franchises — Barry Bagels scaled its franchise growth strategy by expanding outward from core markets before entering distant regions.
Multiple dayparts stabilize revenue — Operating as a true multi‑daypart concept reduced reliance on breakfast traffic and increased average daily sales.
Diversified revenue streams reduce risk — Retail, catering, and wholesale sales created operational leverage through multiple revenue streams.
Smaller stores can work with the right model — A hub‑and‑spoke approach supports restaurant footprint optimization while preserving product quality.
Owner‑operators protect brand consistency — Careful franchisee selection ensures accountability, product standards, and long‑term success.
