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Indian-American franchisee takes over parent company BRIX Holdings
Two decades after starting as a teenage waiter, Amol Kohli now leads Brix Holdings’ multi-brand portfolio in a rare franchisee-led takeover.
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Anushka Pathak - Mon, 06, Oct 2025
- 17:27 EDT
- 33
A Friendly’s restaurant and (inside) Amol Kohli, chairman of Brix Holdings, the parent company of Friendly’s / Courtesy: Friendly's, Amol Kohli via LinkedIn
Indian-American entrepreneur and multi-unit franchisee of Friendly’s, Amol Kohli, has acquired Brix Holdings—the parent company of the family restaurant chain—marking a rare franchisee-led takeover that underscores a growing shift toward operator-driven restaurant groups.
The takeover, announced in July 2025 and completed through Kohli’s investment firm Legacy Brands International, places him as chairman of Brix’s board while he continues to run his own Friendly’s franchises. He will lead Brix’s strategic direction, while CEO Sherif Mityas manages day-to-day operations. Brix Holdings oversees a diverse portfolio, including Friendly’s, Clean Juice, Red Mango, Orange Leaf, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Humble Donut Co., and Souper Salad.
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Kohli, who started his career as a waiter at one of Friendly’s restaurants, currently owns more than 30 Friendly’s locations across the East Coast.
At 15, he joined Friendly’s near Philadelphia, earning $5 an hour, waiting tables, cooking, washing dishes, and scooping ice cream. Those early shifts, he said, taught him the fundamentals of payroll, food costs, and operations long before he became an owner.
After graduating from Drexel University with degrees in finance and marketing, Kohli briefly considered Wall Street before returning to hospitality. A former supervisor offered him a management role at multiple Friendly’s sites, sparking a 16-year career that saw him revive struggling units and build a multi-state franchise portfolio.
"Friendly's has been a part of my life since I was 15. I started as a breakfast table waiter, which evolved into owning, managing, developing, and overseeing several locations over the last 16 years," said Kohli. "I plan to take that to the next level in this new chapter of BRIX Holdings' ownership to grow the size, scale and infrastructure for all our franchise networks and systems."
"Amol is the ideal candidate for ownership of BRIX Holdings. He has a long history of success and dedication to Friendly's. His broad experience in the restaurant industry and in-depth understanding of multi-brand franchising systems and development will contribute greatly to the continued growth of the BRIX brands and its franchisees," said John Antioco, managing member of JAMCO Interests LLC.
According to an official statement, Kohli plans to develop all Brix brands across the country. In addition, he will specially focus on the Friendly's brand's immediate expansion into target markets like Georgia, the Carolinas and further south into Texas.
Kohli says the challenges represent opportunity. “My ultimate, upfront goal is to continue to grow the brands organically, and then also look at strategic acquisitions where they make sense,” he said, describing his “no sharp turns” philosophy centered on steady expansion and franchisee alignment.
Industry analysts see his acquisition of Brix as a case study in franchisee-led integration—where operational expertise translates into ownership and strategic influence.
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