Gregorys Coffee signs 1st franchise deal in Bergen County

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The basics:

• Gregorys Coffee signs first franchise agreement
• Bergen County location planned for 2027 opening
• Former district manager Stavros Zamfotis to operate shop
• Craveworthy is leading Gregorys’ national franchise expansion

After ramping up a franchising push to drive nationwide expansion, Gregorys Coffee has landed its first development deal.

As part of the newly signed agreement, Stavros Zamfotis will open a location in Bergen County. The specialty coffee chain franchisee said he is currently scouting sites for a shop slated to open in early to mid-2027.

Besides being the younger cousin of Gregorys founder Gregory Zamfotis, the new franchisee previously spent nine years with the brand. He joined the company as a barista and worked his way up to district manager overseeing eight locations across New Jersey and New York.

Launched in 2006, 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.

Since then, Zamfotis has watched his cousin grow Gregorys from a single Manhattan coffee shop into a chain with more than 50 locations nationwide. Within New Jersey, its stores include Jersey City, Hoboken, Paramus, Summit, Lawrenceville and Old Bridge.

Counter moves

With a lifelong goal of business ownership, Zamfotis said becoming a franchisee was the natural next step.

“My heart has always been with Gregorys. I’ve worked alongside my family and the incredible people who built this brand from the ground up. I know what it stands for, what it takes to run it well and what it means to the Gregulars it serves every day. I’ve always strived to be an entrepreneur, and there’s no brand I’d rather do that with. This is extremely personal,” he said.

Gregory Zamfotis shared, “Having Stavros step into this role means every-thing. He didn’t just work here; he lived this brand with us. He crafted the product, built strong teams, led successful shops in the market and under-stood what we’re really about long before franchising.”

The Holmdel native went on to add, “The fact that our first franchise agreement is with family signifies exactly who we are.”

After nearly two decades helming the business, Gregory Zamfotis decided last summer the time was right to grow alongside franchisees.

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

Opening a Gregorys franchise

Headquartered in Illinois, Craveworthy aims 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 Wing It On!, Genghis Grill, Lucky Cat Poke Co., Dirty Dough and Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken.

As an investor and managing partner for the New York City-based Gregorys, Craveworthy said it aims to leverage the brand’s strong equity and operational foundation to set the stage for a new chapter of growth.

The company is initially focusing 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, according to Craveworthy.

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

Since launching Gregorys’ franchise program earlier this year, Craveworthy said it has received “strong early interest from experienced multi-unit entrepreneurs, qualified owner-operators and strategic investors.”

Opening a Gregorys franchise requires an initial investment of $459,150 to $946,000, with an upfront franchise fee of $35,000. It also requires ongoing royalties of 6% and a 4% marketing fund contribution

Commenting on its first Gregorys deal, Craveworthy founder and CEO Gregg Majewski said, “Stavros is what a Craveworthy success story looks like. He started behind the counter, bet on himself and never stopped owning the outcome. That’s exactly the kind of operator we built this platform for.”