Thai Express Opens In Scottsdale, Arizona

Corporate team member and spouse see value in the exciting new brand,
opt to open a franchise and helm Scottsdale’s first Thai Express location

As Carly Weinmeister puts it, “We’re smart people, and should be able to operate our own business.” That’s why she and husband Jason are now the proud owners of a Thai Express™franchise in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The Weinmeisters aren’t Thai Express’ first husband-wife franchise ownership team, but they do bring a couple of interesting twists to the table: Carly is a former radio ad-sales representative, so she knows marketing, and Jason is the Director of Accounting for Thai Express corporate parent Kahala Brands, so he certainly knows franchising.

New and unique dining concept had appeal

Obviously, the idea of owning a franchise wasn’t completely foreign ground to the Weinmeisters. In fact, having a proven system and support network in place gave their entrepreneurial goals focus.

“We knew we could come up with our own business, but thought maybe a franchise would make more sense,” Carly says. “Jason had heard about Thai Express through his job at Kahala, and so we thought we’d check it out. We flew to Canada and did a tour and loved the food and the brand. It was so clean and modern, and seemed like a really new concept when it came to quick-service restaurants and Thai food. We decided to go for it.”

Business, support have been strong

The Weinmeisters opened their Scottsdale Thai Express franchise in September 2018, and so far are seeing a lot of interest and, more importantly, repeat business.

“There has been a great response to the food and the brand, and we have a lot of people — some almost every day — coming in to try different combinations,” she says. “There’s a lot of choice, and that really does get people to visit more frequently. We have been really pleased with that.”

And, she adds “We have had a great support network to rely on as we went through the process of securing our site and getting open. Yes, we’re a part of the company given Jason’s job, but I think every franchise owner has access to experienced people with a lot of experience in the restaurant industry to help them, and that is very important.”

Bring Thai Express to your community today

Thai Express is a low-cost investment opportunity with high potential for growth as it expands across the United States. Startup costs range from $337,900 to $753,700, depending on the model. Since 2004, Thai Express has spread across the Canadian market with a business model built for entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing an authentic and affordable Thai food experience to their communities. The franchise fee for the first Thai Express franchise is $30,000, and the franchise fee for multiple units can be discounted if certain conditions and criteria are met. For more information, download our free franchise information report.