Taffer’s Tavern, the full-service tavern concept started by Jon Taffer, has announced the signing of a franchise agreement to open multiple locations in Washington, D.C. metro airports with franchisee, Raj Gandhi. This will mark the brand’s second non-traditional location, after the first opened at the FedEx Field, the home ground for NFL’s Washington football team.
“With the return to travel underway, I strongly believe that Taffer’s Tavern will thrive at any airport. An airport is not just a hub for airplanes and airstrips anymore, nowadays it provides an enjoyable and memorable travel experience that starts long before customers arrive at the terminal. Patrons are looking for unique style dining options with quality food, which is exactly what Taffer’s Tavern Old-World tavern ambiance and menu provides,” said Gandhi.
“From a business perspective, with an average split of 50/50 food and beverage sales, the latest advancements in food preparation technology, and Jon Taffer’s decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Taffer’s Tavern is an ideal restaurant concept to introduce as an airport location.”
Gandhi currently operates the Firkin & Fox at Dulles International Airport (IAD). In 2019, IAD and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) collectively had nearly 50 million annual passengers travel through the facilities. According to data from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, DCA alone saw domestic commercial passenger activity increase 205.6 per cent in August 2021 compared to the same time last year.
“Busy airports have tens of thousands of hungry travelers passing through the terminals each day. An airport location will allow people from all over the world to see and experience the Taffer’s Tavern brand as we continue to open full-service and non-traditional restaurant locations in some of the busiest areas throughout the country,” said Jon Taffer.
“I designed Taffer’s Tavern to provide consistent, high-quality casual dining with state-of-the-art technology. I’m so excited about working with a proven full-service airport operator like Raj to bring Taffer’s Tavern to an airport setting, which will greatly benefit from these built-in efficiencies.”
Taffer’s Tavern is also laying plans to open a full-service restaurant within the Penn-Quarter neighborhood, adjacent to the Capital One Arena in downtown D.C. The brand has partnered with Fransmart to facilitate its growth.
“Studies have shown people spend up to $140 in the airport on average before they even board a plane. Given Raj’s experience as an airport restaurant operator, it was easy for him to recognize that opening a Taffer’s Tavern as an airport location allows the business to take advantage of high volume of people in a defined space,” said Fransmart CEO Dan Rowe.
“A Taffer’s Tavern will perform extremely well due to being a hoodless/ventless restaurant with a highly successful drink program that is able to consistently serve customers delicious, high-quality tavern fare at lightning-fast speed.”
“The operational model and brand power of Taffer’s Tavern is unique all-around. I’m thrilled to have the chance to collaborate with Fransmart in a new way after working with the organization to establish my very first franchise endeavor,” said Gandhi.
“I have known Dan Rowe for more than 15 years now. I appreciate his mentorship and value his extensive experience in the franchising industry, so I know when Fransmart presents an opportunity to me it’s going to be a winning concept.”
