Gregorys Coffee is brewing up its next growth chapter. The New York City-born specialty coffee brand announced on February 13th, 2026, that it has officially launched a franchise program, positioning the nearly 20-year-old concept to expand into new communities with franchise partners.
After opening its first café in Manhattan in 2006, Gregorys built its business around small-batch, high-quality coffee, a fresh menu prepared in-house, and a neighborhood-forward guest experience. The brand now operates more than 50 cafés across the U.S., and it plans to grow that footprint through franchising with support from Craveworthy Brands, a multi-brand restaurant franchisor and hospitality platform.
Gregorys Coffee turns a 20-year café playbook into a franchise opportunity
Gregorys has cultivated a loyal base of customers it calls “Gregulars,” and leadership framed franchising as a way to expand while staying true to the guest experience that helped the brand scale.
“We’ve spent years building Gregorys with intention and care to ensure it stood the test of time before opening the door to franchising,” said Gregory Zamfotis, Founder of Gregorys Coffee. “Our Gregulars are the heart of this brand, and we wanted to grow in a way that protects what makes Gregorys special; the taste of our coffee, the feel of our experience. With the support of an industry leader, we’re partnering with passionate operators who share that love for the hustle and grind and want to bring something meaningful to their communities.”
The announcement also pointed to strong momentum in specialty coffee. Gregorys cited research indicating the specialty coffee market could exceed $80 billion by 2030, while also noting National Coffee Association data that 46 percent of adults consume a specialty beverage daily.
For Gregorys, those broader category tailwinds intersect with a brand identity that has leaned into craft, community, and the “third place” concept. The company says it continues to roast coffee through its New York City roastery to drive freshness and consistency across locations. It also highlighted scratch-made pastries, seasonal offerings, and culinary innovation as key parts of the café experience designed to earn repeat visits throughout the day.
What franchisees can expect, with Craveworthy Brands powering infrastructure
The franchise program runs on Craveworthy Brands’ existing franchise platform, which the company says supports emerging and legacy restaurant concepts across the country. In Gregorys’ franchise rollout, Craveworthy will provide operational structure across real estate, training, supply chain, culinary development, marketing, and technology.
According to the announcement, support starts with data-backed site selection, followed by onboarding and store training. After opening, franchisees can expect ongoing operational guidance aimed at helping owner-operators build teams and execute consistently, while tapping into centralized resources and purchasing power.
Craveworthy’s leadership emphasized the people-forward element it sees in Gregorys’ foundation.
“In my 30 years in the restaurant industry, the brands that endure start with an excellent product; but even more, they’re built on people, purpose and genuine loyalty,” said Gregg Majewski, CEO and Founder of Craveworthy Brands. “Gregorys has that soul. It is a coffee brand that has stood the test of time, earned a devoted community of Gregulars and now has the systems and support in place to expand above and beyond.”
Craveworthy Brands owns and supports a portfolio that includes concepts such as Big Chicken, Dirty Dough, Hot Chicken Takeover, Taim Mediterranean Kitchen, and Wing It On!, among others. Gregorys now becomes the latest concept in that portfolio to lean into franchising as a growth channel.
First Franchise Open House held February 17th in Old Bridge, New Jersey
Gregorys kicked off franchise recruiting with its first Franchise Open House on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET at 2070 US-9, Old Bridge, NJ 08857, in the Glenwood Green Shopping Center.
The company invited entrepreneurs to visit the café, taste-test Gregorys’ craft coffee, explore the café experience firsthand, and meet the leadership team. Gregorys said it was looking for qualified franchisees ready to bring the brand’s coffee experience to new markets nationwide.
The brand said its initial franchise growth would focus on high-density, high-opportunity markets where specialty coffee is part of the daily routine, including urban neighborhoods, commuter hubs, college towns, and lifestyle centers. It also outlined target development regions that included the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain West, and select West Coast markets.
Gregorys said it was seeking experienced multi-unit entrepreneurs, qualified owner-operators, and strategic investors who shared its commitment to quality and hospitality as it expanded beyond its existing base.
