New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Atlantic Records) -
Music executive Don Pooh is expanding beyond music with his own franchise restaurant chain, Famous Seafood. The 11-year music industry veteran co-executive produced Grammy Award winning Mary J. Blige's No More
Drama album, and helped launch the career of rap vixen Foxy Brown. His latest protege, singer/songwriter Wynter
Gordon is scheduled to be released winter 2007 on his Don Pooh
Music Group joint venture with Atlantic Records.
After successfully making his mark in music working with the likes of the Foxy Brown, Shyne, Mary J. Blige and others, Pooh decided to diversify his portfolio and delve into the food service industry. He quickly established his pedigree by investing and opening several successful restaurant franchises in the New York tri-state area, after which he decided to create his own brand.
"After discovering that only two to four percent of proven franchises fail, it made great business sense to start my own," explains Pooh. "Upon assessing the marketplace, I realized there was a void in the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry in the seafood segment." Coupling his music industry management experience and the knowledge acquired from developing several Papa John's restaurants and his Reign Lounge nightclub in downtown Brooklyn, Don Pooh set out to create a lucrative concept, which he coined Famous Seafood.
Steve Sillion, a partner at investment firm New City Partners, who recently closed a multi million dollar deal to acquire 32 Captain D's restaurants in Memphis, expresses his own excitement in the Famous Seafood venture. "We have no doubt that this concept has all the right ingredients for success," explains Steve. "Famous Seafood could possibly be to seafood restaurants what Subway is to sandwich places."
With stores located in Northern New Jersey, Brooklyn and Manhattan, Famous Seafood has entered into several franchise agreements, which puts the company on pace to open 15 units over the next 24 months. "I am very excited about the growth of the company," says VP of Marketing Paul Parris. "The consumer feedback has been incredible to our food, especially our 'healthier alternative menu options'. The secret recipes for the Famous Sauce, the Soul Slaw and the Famous Fried Lobster Tails are a sure hit with customers."
For more information on Don Pooh and Famous Seafood, go to www.tygereye.net/donpooh, www.famousseafood.com, www.newcitypartners.com and www.myspace.com/donpoohmusic
